South SFV Today

A Stanford course recently provided students with an in-depth exploration of racial narratives and their impact on American history and justice. The course, titled "Narrative Strategies for Racial Justice," included immersive experiences and critical discussions that took participants from the classroom to Montgomery, Alabama, a city with a significant role in the history of slavery and segregation.

The course was led by Bryan Stevenson, a death penalty lawyer known for his work with the Equal Justice Initiative, along with Stanford Law Professor Ralph Richard Banks and Jennifer Eberhardt, a professor at Stanford. It was part of Stanford Law School’s S-Term offerings designed to provide unique learning experiences.

Students engaged in 10 hours of class sessions complemented by readings and lectures. A three-day field trip to Montgomery allowed them to visit historical sites such as the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. These visits were described as transformative by both students and instructors.

Jennifer Eberhardt remarked on the engagement level of students: “I have taught courses at Stanford for over 25 years now and I have never seen students more engaged than they were in this class.”

Ralph Richard Banks highlighted the gap between America's ideal of impartial justice and its reality: “The potency of narratives of racial difference has often undermined the neutrality of legal decision-makers."

Mikaela Spruill, a criminal justice postdoctoral fellow, emphasized how harmful cultural narratives can justify human rights violations like extralegal lynchings. She shared her personal experience walking through Montgomery's historic sites: “I will carry that experience...with me throughout my life as I continue to conduct justice-oriented research.”

Bryan Stevenson pointed out issues like over-incarceration as manifestations of fear-based narratives: “One of the goals of this course was to help students understand why we have accepted so much racial bias and injustice.”

Law student Dana Sweeney noted that visiting Montgomery brought historical realities into sharp focus: “Visiting Montgomery makes that painfully clear, and it calls us to more thoughtfully inhabit the present.”

The course underscored the importance of proximity in understanding racial injustice. Students met individuals affected by biased legal systems, which deepened their comprehension beyond academic study alone.

Eberhardt concluded that both class sessions and field trips transformed participants' understanding: “It moved us. It connected us to one another. It inspired a desire to do more to make a difference in the world.”

Stevenson emphasized developing skills to combat racial injustice: “We are in a narrative struggle...it’s important to develop the skills, strategies, and tactics to eliminate bias.”

Banks reiterated that confronting narratives about racial differences is crucial for change: “For such narratives to be dislodged, they must first be identified and confronted.”