Teach about Race, Racism and Criminal Justice with Just Mercy

In this lesson, the film itself is the central text as students focus on how themes, characters, and other influences impact Walter McMillian’s case

Part 1 of this lesson involves students viewing the film, which takes slightly more than two hours, and completing a viewer-response journal. They share responses with partners or small groups, participate in large-group discussion, and analyze significant quotations from the movie. Students clarify their understanding of what happens in the film, the characters involved, and key themes involving racism, prejudice, and bias.

In Part 2, the class investigates the significance of the title Just Mercy and considers the relationship between mercy, motivation, and justice in the context of the film. This leads students to explore the layering of themes conveyed by the film and allows them to brainstorm themes that they identify as important

 In Part 3, students switch their attention to exploring the film’s relevance and how it connects to current events and issues that our society faces today. Students participate in a role-play exercise meant to help them build closer connections to and empathy for the film’s characters.

In Part 4, students become familiar with the elements of a film review. They work alone or in small groups to collect and synthesize their learning about Just Mercy to that point. They then write

This lesson includes 4 printable handouts:

1. Viewer Response Journal Handout
2. Just Mercy Theme Analysis Worksheet
3. Character Interviews Worksheet
4. Writing a Film Review Worksheet