Bryan Stevenson is the founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) and the visionary force behind the Legacy Sites in Montgomery, Alabama, including the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and the Legacy Museum. Through this work, Bryan Stevenson has brought national and international attention to how the legacies of slavery and racial violence have shaped — and continue to shape— American society today.
As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its independence, Stevenson’s story speaks directly to the core contradictions—and promises—of the American experience. His reflections show how democracy has been expanded through the courage of those who resisted exclusion and oppression, and why the fight for civil rights and equality is still unfinished. At a time when democratic institutions are under strain and historical narratives are increasingly reframed to serve political agendas, Stevenson’s message feels especially timely and necessary.
His words will be interwoven with musical interludes by composers from diverse American backgrounds, with particular attention to underexposed compositional voices, including Tania Léon, Valerie Coleman, Julia Perry, and Betty Jackson King, concluding with a piece for wind quintet and piano by Billy Childs. These works will be performed by musicians of the renowned Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra together with Spanish-American pianist-composer Daahoud Salim, and are inspired by Mind the Gap!—a festival celebrating diversity and the evolving landscape of classical music. Together, spoken word and music create a compelling dialogue—one that invites reflection on America’s past, its ideals, and the paths toward a more just and inclusive future.
Bryan Stevenson: The unfinished Promise of American Justice
The John Adams Institute – 24 June 2026 @ 19:30
De Duif, Prinsengracht 756, Amsterdam
For more information go to https://www.john-adams.nl/bryanstevenson/