Just Mercy Ch 5-8

Stevenson opens chapter 5 with over a page of direct quotations from McMillian’s sister and other family members. What effect does this have?

• The quotations impress upon the reader the lack of support McMillian has in his efforts to get his ruling overturned.

• The quotations contradict one another, leaving the reader feeling ambivalent and unsure of McMillian’s guilt or innocence.

• Because the reader likes the family members so much, they will automatically be more inclined to be sympathetic towards McMillian.

• The reader gains a sense of the family's anguish and indignation that Walter could be convicted when so many people could vouch for being with him at the time of the murder.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

What is the author’s purpose for including the allusion to W.E.B. DuBois’ short story “Of the Coming of John” and naming chapter 5 after that story?

• Stevenson wants readers to realize that referencing well-known short stories is helpful to prove points in a lengthy text.

• 1. Stevenson makes this connection to illustrate how his own mission parallels that of the main character, John, because he is determined to seek equality and liberation.

• DuBois is a famous author, and Stevenson also faces struggles as a writer, so he illustrates how difficult it is to share a message with an audience.

• 1. Stevenson is demonstrating that it is hopeless to fight against systems of oppression, because the ending of “Of the Coming of John” is tragic.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.6

CCSS.RI.11-12.6

CCSS.RL.11-12.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

CCSS.RL.9-10.6

In Chapter 5, how was Darnell Houston able to help McMillian’s case?

• He was able to testify that he had seen McMillian at the fish fry during the time of the murder.

• He was able to testify that Bill Hooks was with him during the time of the murder and couldn’t have seen Walter’s truck as he claimed.

• He gave them some leads about who might actually have killed Ronda Morrison.

• He confessed to killing Ronda Morrison.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RI.9-10.9

CCSS.RI.K.6

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

In Chapter 5, what negative consequence did Darnell Houston face for giving his testimony to

Stevenson?

• He received bomb threats.

• He lost his job.

• He was charged with perjury.

• He didn’t face any consequences.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.7

CCSS.RI.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.7

As Stevenson drives home at the end of chapter 5, he looks at the countryside and says this time he doesn’t have to imagine what life there must have been like decades ago. What does he mean by this (114)?

• He decides that the county’s overt racism and discrimination had been expressed just as openly now as they were decades ago, making life virtually the same.

• He understands that reflecting on what life was like in the past is not going to be useful in freeing McMillian, so he decides to begin focusing on the present instead.

• This is a sign of Stevenson’s mental state. He’s too exhausted by the events of the week to expend that mental energy anymore, even though it used to be a favorite past time of his.

• Stevenson’s deep research about the area, done to help him with McMillian’s case, has taken all of the mystery from the area for him.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

In Chapter 6, Stevenson discovers that the incarcerated young boy, Charlie, doesn’t seem like a likely murderer. What situation contextualizes his crime?

• The man Charlie killed abused Charlie’s mom regularly. On the evening of the murder, George had hurt Charlie’s mom so badly, Charlie thought she was dying.

• Charlie killed the man out of self- defense when the man came at Charlie to try to kill him.

• It was an accident. Charlie had set out a bomb to catch the attention of his girlfriend, and it went off and killed someone.

• Charlie was involved in a drug deal gone wrong and George got caught in the crossfire.

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.1

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.1

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.3.1

In Chapter 6, how did the identity of George, the man Charlie killed, factor into the case against Charlie?

• George was white and Charlie is black, biasing the jury against Charlie.

• George was an important political figure in town, causing community outrage. This prompted the prosecutor to try Charlie as an adult.

• George was a police officer, respected by many in the law enforcement community. This caused the prosecutor to try Charlie as an adult and seek the maximum penalty.

• The community knew that George was an abusive alcoholic, causing many to ask the prosecutor to try Charlie as a juvenile instead of an adult.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

 In chapter 6, what is the author’s purpose for including the lengthy account of Charlie’s story?

• 1. Stevenson knows the story seems extreme, so he describes it in detail in order to ensure that the reader will believe that it is true.

• Stevenson appeals to the reader’s empathy with Charlie, in order to illustrate the importance of understanding the context in which a crime was committed so that we will have mercy.

• Stevenson hopes to enlighten readers about how prevalent domestic abuse is, in order to urge people to seek help if they are in need.

• 1. Stevenson is suggesting that all policemen are corrupt and hungry for power, in order to explain why the prosecutors valued the life of George (who was a policeman) over Charlie.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.6

CCSS.RI.11-12.6

CCSS.RL.11-12.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

CCSS.RL.9-10.6

In Chapter 6, when Stevenson visits Charlie in jail, what terrible thing does he discover?

• Charlie has been sexually assaulted by the other inmates.

• Charlie has been put into solitary confinement for long periods of time

• Charlie has attempted suicide multiple times already.

• Another inmate tried to kill Charlie, and he had to kill the inmate in self-defense.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.6.9

In Chapter 6, what was the result of Stevenson taking Charlie’s case?

• He was able to prove Charlie acted in self-defense and free him entirely.

• Stevenson was unable to prevent Charlie from being tried in adult court, and he was sentenced to life in prison.

• Charlie was still tried as an adult, but Stevenson was able to get Charlie a sentence that included the possibility of parole.

• Stevenson was able to get the case handled in the juvenile system so Charlie would be able to be released before he was 18.

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.1

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.1

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.3.1