Bryan Stevenson Interview: The Role of Slavery in America

Public Interest Lawyer Bryan Stevenson believes that America hasn't fully grappled with the institution of slavery, and because of this lack of understanding it's hard to evaluate the role of Abraham Lincoln. Stevenson says to understand Lincoln, you have to understand how slavery formed in this country in ways that were very distinct from the evolution of slavery in other spaces, and that emancipation did not mean freedom. Bryan Stevenson is the founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), a human rights organization in Montgomery, Alabama. Mr. Stevenson is a widely acclaimed public interest lawyer who has dedicated his career to helping the poor, the incarcerated, and the condemned. Under his leadership, EJI has won major legal challenges eliminating excessive and unfair sentencing, exonerating innocent death row prisoners, confronting abuse of the incarcerated and the mentally ill, and aiding children prosecuted as adults. He is the author of the critically acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Just Mercy (2014). He is a graduate of the Harvard Law School and the Harvard School of Government. Stevenson’s work has won him numerous awards, including the prestigious MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Prize. The Apple TV+ series "Lincoln's Dilemma," features insights from journalists, educators and scholars, as well as rare archival materials, that offer a more nuanced look into the life of the Great Emancipator. Set against the background of the Civil War, "Lincoln's Dilemma" also gives voice to the narratives of enslaved people, shaping a more complete view of an America divided over issues including economy, race and humanity, and underscoring Lincoln's battle to save the country, no matter the cost. The series is narrated by award-winning actor Jeffrey Wright ("Angels in America") and features the voices of actor Bill Camp ("The Night Of") as Lincoln and Leslie Odom Jr. ("Hamilton") as Frederick Douglas. To view the entire series please visit: https://tv.apple.com/us/show/lincolns... Subscribe for access to interviews, series, films, and educational materials that address issues of social justice, history, politics, the arts, and culture by spotlighting relatable human stories of purpose and meaning. Learn about our work and how to support our mission here: https://www.lifestories.org/. For extended versions of these interviews and more, visit:    / @lifestoriesinterviewarchive   Follow us on Instagram:   / lifestoriesinterviews   Chapter Markers: 00:00 - Introduction 00:11 - Evolution of slavery in the U.S. 06:31 - Slavery in America 09:11 - Emancipation does not bring equality 12:03 - The narrative of racial hierarchy in the U.S. 17:08 - American power dynamics 20:51 - Lincoln’s relevance today 22:48 - Lincoln’s limitations 26:42 - Lincoln’s capacity for change 32:22 - The complex relationship between Douglass and Lincoln 35:51 - The limitations of Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation 39:00 - How Black Americans fought for emancipation 42:18 - What freedom meant to Black people 45:23 - The Lincoln Memorial 47:32 - The legacy of slavery 54:16 - American ideology of racial difference 1:02:43 - Our choice of words Bryan Stevenson Interview Date: February 18, 2021 Interviewed by: Jackie Olive and Barak Goodman © Apple Video Programming, LLC. All Rights Reserved. #BryanStevenson #kunhardtfilmfoundation