Answer: Here are three social issues in the text Just Mercy and their connection to people/settings:
1. Systemic Racism: The text discusses the pervasive problem of racial bias in the criminal justice system, particularly in the South. One example is the case of Walter McMillian, who was wrongfully convicted of murder in Alabama despite overwhelming evidence of his innocence. The fact that McMillian, a black man, was sentenced to death based on a false accusation and flimsy evidence points to the systemic racism that exists within the criminal justice system.
2. Poverty: Another social issue that is prominent in the book is poverty, and its intersection with the criminal justice system. Many of the clients of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), the organization founded by author Bryan Stevenson, come from impoverished backgrounds and cannot afford adequate legal representation. For instance, the case of Herbert Richardson, a veteran with mental illness, who was sentenced to death for a crime that he committed while suffering from a severe PTSD episode, highlights how poverty and lack of resources can contribute to injustice.
3. Mass Incarceration: The book also touches on the issue of mass incarceration, and how it has become a prevalent problem in the United States. The case of Anthony Ray Hinton, who spent nearly 30 years on death row for a crime he did not commit, is an example of how the criminal justice system often prioritizes punishment over justice. The setting of the prison and the justice system is therefore central to this social issue.
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