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In chapter 7, Stevenson requests a direct appeal of Walter’s conviction. Stevenson appears before Judge Patterson who is a former Alabama governor who is well known for resisting de-segregation and will break the law to preserve this notion. Stevenson argues that Walter’s conviction was based on racial biases and illegal proceedings which in no way persuades Patterson. Patterson asks Stevenson where he’s from, which places him above Stevenson and makes it seem like he has no right talking to him. After the hearing, Stevenson tells Walter to stay hopeful and that they have plenty of options left.
Right of the bat Stevenson declares that Walter is innocent. He does this by telling Walter’s story as if he were there and as if he was Walter himself by inserting thoughts and feelings into the pages. He does this with many people in the book, and it helps him use pathos effectively. For example, Stevenson writes, “ The surreal whirlwind of the preceding weeks had left Walter devastated. After living his whole life free and unrestrained by anyone or anything, he found himself confined and threatened in a way he could never have imagined” (55).
They knew that they had little to no evidence against Greg Kelley. Walter McMillian not only had to deal with being accused with little to no evidence but also had to deal with racism. During the trial, he was threatened with lynching and was faced with racism in the law enforcement. “Walter would report for years that all he heard throughout his arrest, over and over again, was the word nigger. ‘Nigger this,’ ‘nigger that,’ followed by insults and threats of lynching,” (Stevenson 48).
As Walter’s lawyer, Stevenson has access to these documents and it appeals to readers’ logic because by quoting these official documents one can see that Stevenson isn’t lying. Stevenson quotes Ralph Myers in Walter’s Rule 32 hearing which states, “anything that was told about McMillian was a lie... As far as I know, McMillian didn’t have anything to do with his because on the day, on the day they say this happened, I didn’t even see McMillian. And that’s exactly what I told lots of people” (171).
Stevenson's use of this technique is a result of, the stereotypes and prejudice common, in the Southern courts. The social climate influences the jury as they believe black men are unreliable and believe whites at a higher rate, which is a common stereotype that affects the way the jury sees Walter and
Even though it’s nonfiction, it reads much like a fiction novel would, getting comparisons to ¬To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. What makes it even more compelling than the fictional novel is that these are the stories of real people, of those wrongly convicted or unfairly sentenced. Stevenson’s memoir truly shows the power of mercy and what it can do for those wronged by judiciaries. This book’s story of justice and redemption and Stevenson’s struggle to free convicts from unjust or excessive punishment is deeply moving and powerful. The reader will root for him as he struggles to do as much as he can for the accused.
Racism plays a big part in the book, this makes him act differently. When Walter was young he tried hanging a young black kid with older kids. Growing up in life, Walter starts seeing whites has a better chance of succeeding in life then blacks do. Back then most southern schools only accepted whites, all blacks, must apply for a “negro” school.
On Friday, 9-11-2015, at approximately 0140hrs, I interviewed Richard McPheter at the Western Reception Diagnostic Correctional Center in St. Joseph, Missouri. Richard McPheter was read his right agreeing to talk. Richard McPheter advised he stole nothing from Ginger Billups. Richard McPheter advised Ginger Billups wanted him to take her debit card to get cash out to buy her some meth. Richard McPheter advised that Ginger Billups let him use her Craftsman riding lawn mower to get her meth.
In the first paragraph, Stevenson says that “... [Walter] had been threatened and terrorized, wrongly accused and condemned, but he never gave up….Walter had overcome what fear, ignorance, and bigotry had done to him.” In the second paragraph: “Walter’s case taught me that fear and anger are a threat to justice…” In the third paragraph: “The real question of capital punishment in this country is, Do we deserve to kill?” And in the last paragraph: “Walter had taught me that mercy is just when it is rooted in hopefulness and freely given.
the book states “I don't know why we are wasting time. He’s as guilty as when I first laid eyes on him”(Walter Dean Myers 52) we can see that the jury in the story is extremely racist and he has no chance of winning his case, my point is backed up by the statement made by a black jury who stated “Dont tell nobody I said this but a young black kid on trial… don't stand a chance. ”(Walter Dean Myers 52) a black jury stating such a statement is really showing how racist the justice system is an unfair and steve is a 16-year-old going up against a 23-year-old adult James King which is another flaw in the justice system
Maybe that was evidence enough,” (Stevenson 31). This part of the book captures how something that has nothing to do with the case, the color of one of the important characters (i.e. Walter McMillian) skin, impacted whether or not he was proven guilty of a murder that he had nothing at all to do with. If racism wasn’t such an extreme issue in the book, Walter would have never been accused of doing something so vile. The blame was pinned to Walter because he was a black man,
The phrasing he used on why Walter was accused really showed that it was just racism. Stevenson wrote: “Now, four months into his term as sheriff, he faced a seemingly unsolvable murder and intense public pressure. But there was now evidence against Walter except that he was an African-American man in an adulterous interracial affair. maybe that was evidence enough.” This quote demonstrates how racism makes people suffer for nothing but their ethnicity.
All evidence pointed to Mr. Ewell as the offender, a man who spends all his money on whiskey and lets his children cry from starvation. While, Tom Robinson is a good person, with a good job and a good family but with a bad, bad skin color. And that's the important factor. The judge, jury, both lawyers, practically the entire town knew that Tom was innocent.
Dating as far back as the 1800’s when slavery was an extreme issue, blacks and other minorities were considered to be the most likely to commit a crime and were often convicted on the testimony of a white person. Mr. McMillian is a perfect explain in the book as a
WHY? Darkness falls and he can’t see, but he can hear them. He always hears them. He has been hearing them since that one night.
