The Current Civil rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson believes America needs truth telling now more than ever
Oct 22, 2025
Bryan Stevenson, a civil rights lawyer and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, emphasizes the need for truth-telling about America’s history with slavery and racial injustice. He discusses the resistance to confronting uncomfortable histories, drawing parallels with South Africa and Germany. Stevenson advocates for institutions to push back against censorship and highlights the importance of protecting voting rights. Despite current threats, he remains optimistic about legal victories and encourages active participation in honoring the legacy of civil rights.
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Honest Cultural Institutions Heal History
- Bryan Stevenson argues the U.S. lacks cultural institutions that honestly address slavery, lynching, and segregation.
- He says creating legacy sites helps correct the nation's false narrative and polluted public memory.
The Power Of A Lasting Narrative
- Stevenson links slavery's enduring harm to a manufactured narrative of racial difference used to justify enslavement.
- He says the North won the war but the South won the narrative, which continues to shape America.
Resist Funding-Driven Censorship
- Stevenson urges federally funded cultural institutions to resist political censorship and preserve integrity.
- He recommends relying on private support if necessary rather than letting funders control content.
