Bryan Stevenson and Brent Staples In Conversation "Justice and Race"

Last night at the Nat'l Historic Soc atty Bryan Stevenson & author of "Just Mercy" was in conversation with Brent Staples, editorial writer for the NYTimes & author of "Parallel Time" on the issues of justice & race in our nation.  Early acknowledgement was made of the Supreme Ct ruling on Miller v AL which recently ruled that life sentences for juveniles is unconstitutional and must be enforced retroactively in all states.  Stevenson agreed that this ruling while of vast importance was frustrating because it has been too long in being handed down.  Inmates imprisoned as juveniles are now required to be brought before parole boards but these cases must be monitored to ensure humane resentencing.  Both eloquent speakers & distinguished writers, Stevenson & Staples were fascinating with their opinions, histories and goals.  Hooray that Stevenson wants to drastically address & reduce our nation's mass incarceration.  I also applaud & agree with Stevenson's adamant stance against the death penalty & life without parole.  Staples did an outstanding job as moderator, allowing Stevenson to orate his views and his experiences.  However, despite pontificating for redemption & hope, I felt Stevenson considers our country blind to the atrocities slavery inflicted in our country and was accusatory of being a nation of white supremacy.  Needless to say, I do agree that we should memorialize respectfully the torturous Jim Crow years which allowed for legal lynchings and forced a mass migration north of blacks fleeing from the south.   True, Trevon Martin & Michael Brown are travesties that must be addressed, I hope that social justice & racial equality, which Stevenson claims we're not entitled to be "celebratory," should be acknowledge as moving forward in the right direction.