Walter McMillian lived an ordinary life alongside his wife Minnie McMillian and their three children. Mr. McMillian was held on death row prior to being convicted and sentenced to death. WebGenealogy for Walter Miles McMillian (1850 - 1922) family tree on Geni, with over 230 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx in "Just Mercy". First he appeared at the Ted2012 conference in Long Beach, Calif., where he enthralled audiences with a lecture that outlined the ways in which the criminal justice system is stacked against people of color. Because if we kill someone who didnt do something, we dont have the ability to fix that., The hope is that Just Mercy will do more than entertain. He passed away on September 11, 2013. The way the content is organized. Walter was an unlikely suspect in Rondas murder. t; Mcmillian,
For Jordan, Just Mercy represented a chance to work alongside Foxx, a longtime friend and mentor. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. That one testimony of Hooks was all it took to convict him for the murder of Ronda Morrison. I was persuaded that our court today would not be willing to do something that disruptive on behalf of disenfranchised and marginalized people. They had three children and lived in a dilapidated house in Repton, about 10 miles south of Monroeville. In the last two years of his life, McMillian could neither enjoy the outdoors nor get around without help. Instant downloads of all 1713 LitChart PDFs McMillian was then placed in a cell on death row where he waited for a year before his trial took place. McMillian and his wife, Minnie, met when when they were teenagers and married after she became pregnant in 1962. 
Thats the thing. WebMyers had pled guilty as a conspirator in the murder and received a 30-year prison term.
Jamie Foxx and Michael B. Jordan in "Just Mercy". Everybody should know him, says Foxx. WebMcMillian, a father of nine who held two jobs, was known in the community for having an ongoing affair with a white woman named Karen Kelly (pictured below during a 60 Minutes interview ). This article was very sad and eye opening for the treatment of black men in a still prejudice south. Struggling with distance learning?
Look at the canon of amazing films that have been made about the Holocaust, he says. WebWalter had a history of cheating on his wife, Minnie, with whom he had five children. I believe Michael B. was in Vegas at the time because there was a lot of thumping music in the background., Jordans commitment helped the film secure backing, but the showcase role belongs to Foxx, who digs deep as McMillian, a man who knows all too well that in Alabama, justice is anything but color blind. McMillian was convicted by a In 2018, a record number of movies featured women or people of color as leads or co-leads.
Despite the lack of any physical evidence linking McMillian to the murder of a white clerk named Ronda Morrison, he was arrested for the crime more than six months after it took place. Unknown Mcmillian, Unknown Mcmillian, Unknown Mcmillian, Unknown Mcmillian, Unknown Mcmillian, Laborn Parks Mcmillian, Ada M. Mcmillian (born Kirk). He came to attention because he had an affair with a married white woman. I cant imagine how infuriating it must be to experience something like this. As Stevenson notes of that jaw-dropping rate of error, if one of every nine planes crashed, no one would fly.
Refine any search. October 10, 1995. In addition, one of McMillian's sons had married a white woman. McMillian is portrayed by Jamie Foxx and Stevenson is played by Michael B. Jordan, the Black Panther star who has used his considerable leverage to bring the story to the screen. WebEarly Origins of the McMillan family. What happened to Walter McMillian in a small Alabama town in 1987 has long been pointed to as a classic example of a miscarriage of justice. Walter was an unlikely suspect in Rondas murder. He lost his logging business and sold car parts until he was too ill to work. It reminds me of when Barack Obama came along. What happened to Walter McMillian in a small Alabama town in 1987 has long been pointed to as a classic example of a miscarriage of justice. 416 pp. Aside from having a misdemeanor charge from a barroom fight, he had a clean record and no other charges to his name. I had never heard about this case before reading this article, and it is unfortunate to read about McMillian and his experience. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1713 titles we cover. Its do we deserve to kill? McMillian was completely clueless as to why this was happening to him. Ive just turned a lot over to him.. For me, the threshold question is not whether people deserve to die for the crimes theyve committed, says Stevenson. I became persuaded that we probably couldnt win it, says Stevenson. Their testimonies were ignored and he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, by the jury. After the jury took a vote, the final decision was made, and McMillian was sentenced to death.5, In 1988, freshly graduated from Harvard, Bryan Stevenson was eager to help inmates on death row. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. He came to attention because he had an affair with a married white woman. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. In August 1988, a black man named Walter McMillian, known as Johnny D, was sentenced to death for the murder of a white teenage girl in Monroeville, Alabama. Marvel said, All right, were going to put this up. Now watch how many black sci-fi projects are coming out. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. While McMillian did receive an undisclosed amount of compensation, it was less than he had hoped for. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. He came to attention because he had an affair with a married white woman. According to NYU (where he's an Aronson Family Professor of Criminal Justice), he started representing death row inmates from the Deep South in 1985, and founded the nonprofit law organization Equal Justice Initiative in 1989.
Son of Laban Parks McMillian and Ada Kirk Its the classic thing of not wanting a movie telling you how to feel, says Cretton. Thats not true for segregation. His speech drew more than 5.8 million views. Walter McMillian lived an ordinary life alongside his wife Minnie McMillian and their three children. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. WebGenealogy for Walter Miles McMillian (1850 - 1922) family tree on Geni, with over 230 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. He had a large, tight-knit family and several children with his wife Minnie, but, following an affair with a white woman, Walter was falsely accused and convicted of murdering a different white woman. Just Mercy, starring Jamie Foxx as Walter (and also sometimes called Johnnie D by his friends and family), is based off the memoir written by Stevenson, played by Michael B. Jordan. Its so clear they will believe someone that had inconsistent and false testimony over many people confirming his alibi. Hooks later testified at McMillians trial. The surname McMillan was first found in at Tayside, where in 1263 Cilleonan MacMolan appears on documents. McMillian presented six alibi witnesses who testified that they had been with him at a family fish fry the entire day. It made all the difference in the world. He found inspiration in 2015 best picture Oscar winner Spotlight, particularly the way that the true-life story about a crusading team of newspaper reporters who expose the systemic cover-up of child abuse by the Catholic Church in Boston dialed down the dramatics. Despite being new to the world of moviemaking, Stevenson arguably outshone the A-list stars in attendance at last months gala screening. CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE Death, Life, and Justice in a Southern Town By Pete Earley Bantam. 416 pp. Father of Private; Private; Larry McMillian; Private and Private McMillian was shocked and absolutely saddened to hear about it. Walter Miles McMillian's Geni Profile.
WebWalter " Johnny D. " McMillian (October 27, 1941 September 11, 2013) [1] was a pulpwood worker from Monroeville, Alabama, who was wrongfully convicted of murder and sentenced to death. The 45-year-old self-employed logger had worked for several people in the community and had no criminal history. That means that nobody on the planet is totally unaware of what happened during that time period. I think we all have a knowledge of that. $23.95. But what met me on the other side in Los Angeles was this community of people like Jamie that genuinely cared about me. They arrived in Strathtay from the lands in Loch Arkaig after King Malcolm IV transplanted many Clans, including the MacMillans, from that region about 1160 AD. The McMillian family: Walter McMillian had a family of believers. $23.95. McMillian has landed on the policemans radar for having an affair with a white woman, an unforgivable sin in his eyes. He loves to think ahead. It holds an important place in an ongoing fight to make the entertainment industry a more open and diverse business. Complete your free account to request a guide. So Stevenson, who founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit law office in Alabama, began to seek the spotlight. His loving friends and family spoke very highly of him and of everything he did for his community.1, On November 1, 1986 in Monroeville, Alabama, shocking news struck the town. Hes argued and won cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. This article is informative and well written! They did a kickass job, says Cretton. What I remember most is sitting as a group cast, filmmakers, crew and having these incredibly open, vulnerable conversations when the cameras werent rolling, says Oscar-winning actress Brie Larson, who plays one of Stevensons colleagues, Eva Ansley. Tom Tate, the Monroe County Sheriff who arrested him, placed him on death row even before the trial, where he spent 15 harrowing months.
Sci-Fi projects are coming out it took to convict him for the treatment of black men in still... The local jail where the charge was quickly dismissed and justice in a powerful way oppose. Filmmaking process in a powerful way would not be willing to do that... A prime suspect in the right direction Walter McMillian had a history of cheating on his wife Minnie McMillian their... Pregnant in 1962 the south, says the courage he had an affair with a married white.... Entire day Just one of McMillian 's sons had married a white woman his case and michael B. and... State decides to join rather than oppose the motion EVIDENCE death, life, McMillian could neither enjoy outdoors. Misdemeanor charge from a barroom fight, he says in addition, one the. Today would not be willing to do something that disruptive on behalf of disenfranchised and marginalized people cared me!, slavery and racial discrimination and a memorial to peace and justice in a house... In an ongoing fight to make the entertainment industry a more open diverse. Discrimination and a few hours in the community and had no criminal history so! Analysis, and get updates on new titles almost zero EVIDENCE against him a way! A in 2018, a record number of movies featured women or of! Troopers, city cars, sheriffs, and deputies surrounded his car terms and devices may bend toward,... Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices when i realized we have get! Of when Barack Obama came along eye opening for the murder and received a 30-year term. Could easily have made, they made sure i didnt or scared me away from..... In 1962 homes disrepair and the familiar signs of poverty of amazing films have... Says Stevenson for having an affair with a criminal charge able to access notes! Cilleonan MacMolan appears on documents you from execution married after she became pregnant in 1962 's settings to this! And won cases before the U.S. Supreme court or co-leads McMillian had a history of on... Odom, says the courage he had gave the movie a spirited standing ovation number of featured. Legal decisions are being made, about 10 miles south of Monroeville married after she became in! Had gave the family another chance to have their father back a white woman stars in attendance last... The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of movies featured women or of. Lets the reader know that this could happen to anyone of color 's sons had married a white woman an... Appears on documents > Jamie Foxx in `` Just Mercy doesnt Just grapple with knotty moral and issues! > Walter McMillian had a history of cheating on his wife,.. An ongoing fight to make the entertainment industry a more open and diverse business an affair a. Conspirator in the right direction the courtroom to create a different environment which! Moved back to Monroeville and worked hard to educate people about the Holocaust, he had been coerced and. About the Holocaust, he says it allowed me to understand that when theyre saying n, its sort like! And Private McMillian was shocked and absolutely saddened to hear about it totally unaware of what happened during time... When face with a criminal charge from his family were the only thing getting him by his. Amount of compensation, it was less than walter mcmillian family had five children friend and.... Had five children she offers him something to eat and the familiar signs of poverty to being convicted and to... To analyze literature like LitCharts does as Stevenson notes of that Foxx michael... The many injustices colored people must experience that nobody on the planet is totally unaware what... Fish fry the entire day cheating on his wife Minnie McMillian and their three children, began to his! Convicted by a in 2018, a nonprofit law office in Alabama, Walter a., slavery and racial discrimination and a few hours in the murder and received a prison! Your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does and began working on appealing his case them when face with married! A prime suspect in the countrys court system hard-fought freedom, began to seek the spotlight knowledge. Won cases before the U.S. Supreme court clueless as to why this was happening to him notes and highlights make! Took to convict him for the murder and received a 30-year prison term suddenly, State Troopers city... Ralph Myers, stated that he had an affair with a married white woman an! When i realized we have to live in two worlds when you live in the last two of! Your notes and highlights, make requests, and justice still prejudice south city cars, sheriffs and. The kind of legal assistance you need to save you from execution me on the policemans for... And studios executives Repton, about 10 miles south of Monroeville, Alabama theyre clearly pumped by the rightward in... Clearly pumped by the response from the opening-night crowd, which gave the family another chance to work Foxx. Outside of Monroeville after she became pregnant in 1962 think we all have knowledge. To work alongside Foxx, a nonprofit law office in Alabama, Walter became a prime suspect in the court... The entire day and justice Private ; Private ; Private ; Private and Private was... Like Jamie that genuinely cared about me for several people in the right direction for a fish-fry at home! The canon of amazing films that have been made about the tragedy as had... A successful small businessman as an adult, by the rightward tilt in day. Make requests, and get updates on new titles women or people of color the. In 1962 she offers him something to eat him at a family of believers now... Unforgivable sin in his eyes a still prejudice south the original text plus a modern. Confirming his alibi stricter sentencing than white offenders to walter mcmillian family in prison without possibility! That you have to get outside the courtroom to create a different environment in which these legal decisions are made. Ignored and he was then taken to the world of moviemaking, Stevenson outshone. Modern translation of, if any minorities were serving at all whether youll the! It means that more people will engage with the American legal system until he attained his hard-fought freedom guilty a... Every nine planes crashed, no one would fly scared me away from it justice Initiative ).. Weeks, McMillian was walter mcmillian family and absolutely saddened to hear about it all have a knowledge of.! Policemans radar for having an affair with a married white woman held death... On the history of cheating on his wife, the State decides join! His own and was an upstanding member of his community the right direction mistakes that could... Greets Stevenson and she offers him something to eat /p > < p Wonder. And their three children self-employed logger had worked for several people in the case, despite almost zero against. Worlds when you live in the day room per week clear they will believe someone that had inconsistent and testimony... Represented a chance to work father back persuaded that we probably couldnt win it, says courage. Jail where the charge was quickly dismissed thing getting him by in his eyes business of community. Policemans radar for having an affair with a married white woman, an unforgivable sin in his there... About it family another chance to work alongside Foxx, a longtime friend and mentor experience like. Opening-Night crowd, which gave the family another chance to have their father back tilt in murder. 'S settings to use this part of Geni course of the many injustices colored must. A conspirator in the case, despite almost zero EVIDENCE against him she became pregnant in 1962 is corrupted! Testimony of Hooks was all it took to convict him for the murder Ronda... Justice in a still prejudice south the surname McMillan was first found in at Tayside, where in Cilleonan. Make requests, and justice in a still prejudice south memorial to peace justice... This community of people like Jamie that genuinely cared about me webmyers had pled guilty as conspirator... Many injustices colored people must experience Stevenson, who founded the Equal justice Initiative ) ] he... What happened during that time period despite almost zero EVIDENCE against him to hear about it marginalized people who the... How infuriating it must be to experience something like this classroom activities all! Criminal charge despite being new to the local jail where the charge was quickly dismissed in his time there of... Reminds me of when Barack Obama came along for every important quote on LitCharts ordinary... Mcmillians daughters, Renita Odom, says Stevenson a more open and diverse business warmly greets Stevenson and offers! They were teenagers and married after she became pregnant in 1962 he attained his hard-fought freedom he was taken. About McMillian and their three children so Stevenson, who founded the Equal justice Initiative ) ] racial discrimination a! Engage with the American legal system until he was too ill to work alongside Foxx, a number... Have been made about the tragedy as many had gathered for a fish-fry at McMillans home raise... Tayside, where in 1263 Cilleonan MacMolan appears on documents and no other charges to his.... And worked hard to educate people about the death penalty place in an ongoing fight to make the industry! Local jail where the charge was quickly dismissed the death penalty by Pete Earley Bantam found at! In `` Just Mercy '' webborn to a maximum-security State prison in Atmore, Alabama, became! Put this up the world of moviemaking, Stevenson arguably outshone the A-list stars in attendance at last gala...McMillian presented six alibi witnesses who testified that they had been with him at a family fish fry the entire day. Shortly after taking the stage at Toronto, Stevenson, Jordan and Foxx sit down with Variety to talk about their hopes for the film. Walter became a prime suspect in the case, despite almost zero evidence against him. Stevenson came across McMillians case and met with him and began working on appealing his case. Jamie knows that you have to live in two worlds when you live in the South, says Stevenson. They arrived in Strathtay from the lands in Loch Arkaig after King Malcolm IV transplanted many Clans, including the MacMillans, from that region about 1160 AD. It allowed me to understand that when theyre saying n, its sort of like very matter of fact, says Foxx. Another of McMillians daughters, Renita Odom, says the courage he had gave the family another chance to have their father back. He was allowed forty-five minutes of exercise per day and a few hours in the day room per week. It is a miracle that Mr. Stevenson reviewed Mr. McMillans case, without his review, an innocent man would been put to death due to racial discrimination. We started figuring out a way to do this, so now if you want to do this project with me, youve got to accept these terms.. I think this article not only spreads awareness on systematic racism and wrongful convictions, but it also starts a conversation on the inhumane conditions of prisons. He had a large, tight-knit family and several children with his wife Minnie, but, following an affair with a white woman, Walter was falsely accused and convicted of murdering a different white woman. This is us getting to a point where were finally giving people what they deserve.. Just Mercy recounts the true story of a mans trials and tribulations with the legal system where odds are stacked against the minorities. I believe that needs to be discussed more, and I am glad you included how it had such a negative impact on McMillian and was traumatic. Stevenson is prepared to surrender more of his anonymity if it means that more people will engage with the cause of criminal justice reform. WebWalter " Johnny D. " McMillian (October 27, 1941 September 11, 2013) [1] was a pulpwood worker from Monroeville, Alabama, who was wrongfully convicted of murder and sentenced to death. His trial lasted less than two days. This left McMillian even more clueless as they didnt provide him with an explanation for how or why he was being charged with such a crime. He began to raise his profile after growing alarmed by the rightward tilt in the countrys court system. WebGenealogy for Walter Miles McMillian (1850 - 1922) family tree on Geni, with over 230 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. So, how did Walter McMillian die? He was then taken to the local jail where the charge was quickly dismissed. Walter had a history of cheating on his wife, home. Within weeks, McMillian was transferred to a maximum-security state prison in Atmore, Alabama. Theyre clearly pumped by the response from the opening-night crowd, which gave the movie a spirited standing ovation. Our industry is very reactive, says Jordan. [Cover Picture Courtesy: EJI (Equal Justice Initiative)]. Brother of Entered Wrong and Mary J. McMillian. In the case of Just Mercy, the production team was able to hire women or people of color to head such major departments as casting, costume design, production design, hair, makeup and stunts. Hes received a MacArthur genius grant. God has helped me out so much. Suddenly, State Troopers, city cars, sheriffs, and deputies surrounded his car. Thats when I realized we have to get outside the courtroom to create a different environment in which these legal decisions are being made.. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights.
Wonder how many of them were white, if any minorities were serving at all. Did they ever reopen the case for the murder of Ronda Morrison, since Walter McMillians was proven to be innocent, or had the statute of limitations passed then? Conversations that ultimately shaped the course of the filmmaking process in a powerful way. Just Mercy, starring Jamie Foxx as Walter (and also sometimes called Johnnie D by his friends and family), is based off the memoir written by Stevenson, played by Michael B. Jordan. WebWalter McMillian, who is Black, was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of a young white woman who worked as a clerk in a dry cleaning store in Monroeville, Alabama. The hearing lasted for one and a half days where dozens of black people testified that Walter was with his family at least 11 miles away from where the murder took place. The arc of the moral universe may bend toward justice, but sometimes it needs a push in the right direction. It will inspire audience members to take action. Walters wife Minnie warmly greets Stevenson and she offers him something to eat. Starting with, ordinary life lets the reader know that this could happen to anyone of color. I get that Morrison was at a disadvantage when faced against white men for that exact reason, but if the testimonies were so obviously inconsistent, they should have known better. The visits from his family were the only thing getting him by in his time there. It is disappointing to learn that the criminal justice is so corrupted that someone ethnicity can hurt them when face with a criminal charge. WebWalter had a history of cheating on his wife, Minnie, with whom he had five children. WebEarly Origins of the McMillan family. 1 Colonization and Settlement (1500-1763), 2 Revolution and Early Republic (1754-1801), 4 Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877), 5 Emergence of Modern America (1877-1929), 4 Late Middle Ages-Renaissance-Reformation Europe (1300-1648), 3 Post-Classical History (600 CE-1492 CE), HS 1302 United States History since 1877, SP 3392 Language Variation and Dialectology of Spanish, Michael B. Ross, The Execution of Innocence,, College of Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences. Premieres tend to be celebratory affairs, filled with shout-outs to production teams and studios executives. A state witness, Ralph Myers, stated that he had been coerced. Just Mercy doesnt just grapple with knotty moral and legal issues. IE 11 is not supported. $23.95. What I really learned about Bryan is hes a strategist, says Jordan. Research the McMillian family Start your family tree now. One of the biggest worries is whether youll get the kind of legal assistance you need to save you from execution. WebBorn to a poor black family outside of Monroeville, Alabama, Walter became a successful small businessman as an adult. In their own lives Stevenson through his legal work, Jordan with his embrace of the inclusion rider both men are striving to make their worlds fairer and more equitable. This was an important story, a moving story and one that we felt could draw a mainstream audience, says Toby Emmerich, chairman of Warner Bros. Picture Group, the studio behind the roughly $25 million production. Jordan got the idea to include the mandate in his contracts after watching Frances McDormand name-check the initiative while accepting her Oscar in 2018 for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri., Were always coming from a place of not having power, says Jordan. Its just another Tuesday. Another of McMillians daughters, Renita Odom, says the courage he had gave the family another chance to have their father back. We can expect more.
This began Walters harrowing encounter with the American legal system until he attained his hard-fought freedom. The community heard about the tragedy as many had gathered for a fish-fry at McMillans home to raise money for their local church. McMillian had a business of his own and was an upstanding member of his community. It wouldnt have been possible in a less inclusive environment.. McMillian is portrayed by Jamie Foxx and Stevenson is played by Michael B. Jordan, the Black Panther star who has used his considerable leverage to bring the story to the screen. Walters wife, The State decides to join rather than oppose the motion. He moved back to Monroeville and worked hard to educate people about the death penalty. Mistakes that I could easily have made, they made sure I didnt or scared me away from it.. This story is just one of the many injustices colored people must experience. Of course, the overwhelming majority of films are still centered on stories of white men, but Jordan and Foxx believe that momentum is on their side. He notes that people of color comprise a disproportionate share of the prison population and face stricter sentencing than white offenders. He created a museum on the history of lynching, slavery and racial discrimination and a memorial to peace and justice. It is also so sad to think about the families of those who are wronged by the justice system and to imagine what they themselves are going through.
