Some Barrington High School students have been doing some heavy reading this semester. As part of the curriculum, more than 200 students are reading Bryan Stevenson’s "Just Mercy, A Story of Justice and Redemption."

The book details the inequalities in the American justice system and how the author, an African American attorney, made a career dedicated to defending the poor, wrongfully condemned and those trapped in the furthest reaches of our criminal justice system.

At a recent school assembly, a discussion on the themes in the book and feedback from the students was led by Judith C. Savage, a retired Rhode Island Supreme Court Judge and Barrington resident.

"Just Mercy" is this year’s featured book chosen by the Reading Across Rhode Island program through the Rhode Island Center for the Book at the RI Council for the Humanities, a statewide organization devoted to promoting personal and community enrichment by celebrating the art and heritage of reading, writing, making and sharing books. There are about a dozen schools in the state reading the book as well as other groups.

Barrington resident Kate Lentz, director of Rhode Island Center for the Book, is organizing similar assemblies and was pleased with the response from students at Barrington High School.

“This was our first discussion and are look forward to engaging the entire community including area churches and library groups,” she said.

Judge Savage spoke for more than hour and asked students about the message and how the book made them feel.

C.J. Hilty, a freshman who was most vocal at the assembly, said he was shocked by the racial and ethnic biases that were brought to light.

“It made me feel enlightened. We never touch on these complicated issues,” he said.

The students are also reading "To Kill A Mockingbird" and connecting the two books — one true to life ("Just Mercy") and the other fictional ("To Kill A Mockingbird").

Caroline Connolly, a senior at Barrington High School is working with Mrs. Lentz on her senior project, connecting the book with the senior citizen community, in particular at Atria Bay Spring Village and the Barrington Senior Center.

“The events we have had so far included a kick-off for the program and the book, as well as a living literature performance for the elderly. The kick-off took place on February 8 and it was led by myself and other National Honor Society students. We gave out books to the residents of Atria and introduced the themes of the novel. We described the theme of proximity throughout the story and showed Bryan Stevenson's TED Talk discussing his book,” she said.

Author Isabel Wilkerson said Mr. Stevenson’s book is one of the most urgent voices of our era.

“Brian Stevenson is a real-life, modern day Atticus Finch, who, through his work in redeeming innocent people condemned to death, has sought to redeem the country itself. This is a book of great power and courage. It is inspiring and suspenseful. A revelation.”

Mr. Stevenson founded the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Ala., and one of his first cases was that of Walter McMillian, a black man sentenced to die for a murder he did not commit.

Judge Savage discussed the prison system in America and how mass incarcerations are historically on the rise with African American and Latinos disproportionately those behind bars. She said that the correctional system is separate from the judicial system.

“You are understanding issues our country is not aware of yet. By discussing these issues, we can be more compassionate people,” she said.

By joining students, the elderly and other groups together with the book, the RI Center for the Book hopes lively discussions will be held and awareness brought to the injustices of the judicial system in America.

Ms. Connolly said she and about 20 freshmen gathered with the Atria residents and talked about their own personal reactions to the book, and what it taught them. 

“The residents really enjoyed the TED Talk and listening to the freshmen,” Ms. Connolly said.
Another event she led was the living literature performance (actors acting out the book). The actors wrote their own script of their commentary, but they also quoted inspiring passages from the book. 

“The residents also really enjoyed this because they had begun to read the story, so it was great to hear other peoples' interpretations of what they were reading,”’ she said.