Legacy Museum Documents Racial Injustice

Human rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson works to preserve historical evidence related to America's past. This stands in contrast to President Trump's orders during his second term for the removal of certain monuments, plaques, and exhibitions concerning slavery and racial injustice in the U.S.

Stevenson's nonprofit, the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), established the Legacy Museum in Montgomery, Alabama, in 2018. The museum documents the history of slavery and racism in America. A new exhibit, 'Montgomery Square,' specifically covers the period from the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott to the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches for voting rights.

Jim Crow Era Transportation

Stevenson characterized Montgomery's buses during the Jim Crow era as hazardous environments. African Americans were restricted from the first 10 seats, which were exclusively for white passengers. Black individuals were also required to pay at the front of the bus and then re-board through the rear, a practice that sometimes resulted in drivers departing before they could get back on.

In 1950, Hilliard Brooks, a Black World War II veteran, was fatally shot by police following an altercation with a bus driver during boarding.

Confronting History for Liberation

Stevenson stated his intention is not to 'punish America' by addressing slavery and lynching. Rather, he presents the confrontation of historical oppression as a route to liberation. He expressed a belief in a more equitable and just America, asserting that achieving this future requires acknowledging and confronting the nation's historical burdens that many have been unwilling to discuss or recognize.

The Equal Justice Initiative and 'Just Mercy'

Stevenson founded the EJI, an organization dedicated to providing legal representation. Its mission is to support children and adults who have been wrongfully convicted or unfairly sentenced. His acclaimed 2014 memoir, 'Just Mercy,' was adapted into a film featuring Michael B. Jordan.

Insights from Civil Rights Activists

Stevenson recounted meeting civil rights activists Rosa Parks and Johnnie Carr. He described explaining EJI's mission: to challenge wrongful convictions, address systemic inequalities in the legal system, represent children, and combat bigotry, poverty, and issues related to mental illness within the justice system.

Parks responded by noting the demanding nature of the work, and Carr emphasized the necessity of bravery for such efforts.

Unwavering Courage During the Selma Marches

Regarding the Selma to Montgomery marches, Stevenson emphasized the significant courage demonstrated by participants who faced violence without protection. He cited powerful testimonies:

• Amelia Boynton Robinson nearly died from the violence.
• Lynda Blackmon Lowery was severely beaten by state troopers but still sought to rejoin the marches.

Stevenson also referenced Dr. Bernard Lafayette, a Selma organizer, who stated participants were prepared for death. This highlights the extraordinary commitment and tenacity required of those involved.

Documenting America's History of Lynching

Over five years, EJI undertook detailed research, examining archives and newspaper records to document lynchings across the U.S. This effort identified 6,500 lynchings of Black individuals between 1865 and 1950. This represents an increase of 2,000 from previous documentation, a historical investigative gap Stevenson noted.

Reasons for these lynchings often included minor social transgressions:

• Failing to use a title of respect.
• Using the front door of a white person's home.
• Passing notes to white women.

One particularly chilling case involved a Black woman lynched as a proxy for her brother, who was accused of an offense. This illustrates the pervasive use of terror violence to reinforce racial hierarchy.

The Path to Truth and Reconciliation

Stevenson asserted that truth-telling is a prerequisite for achieving reconciliation, redemption, restoration, and repair.

He drew parallels to legal processes, where establishing facts is essential for informed judgments. Stevenson referenced international models:

• South Africa's post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission provided platforms for victims and perpetrators.
• Germany's extensive efforts to memorialize the Holocaust and mandate educational understanding.

He contrasted these approaches with the U.S. approach to its own historical harms, highlighting a perceived gap in addressing its past.