About EJI

ListenAudio stories from generations affected by lynching.
WatchA film exploring one family’s painful past and journey south.
ExploreInteractive maps on the impact of lynching.
Learn MoreJoin our efforts to fight racial injustice today.
The ReportThe full report with additional research and materials for educators.
AboutMore about the project and the Equal Justice Initiative.
Strange Fruit

/aboutAbout EJIAbout EJILynching in America About EJILynching in America About EJI“We cannot heal the deep wounds inflicted during the era of racial terrorism until we tell the truth about it.”Lynching in AmericaThe Equal Justice Initiative believes we need to change the narrative about race in America in order to advance our collective goal of equal justice for all. As part of this work, we extensively researched the period between the Civil War and World War II, when over 4,000 African Americans were lynched in this country. We published our findings in the report Lynching in America: Confronting the Legacy of Racial Terror, the most comprehensive work done on lynching to date. Many racial terror lynchings, however, went unreported and their victims remain unknown.With support from Google, EJI has created an interactive experience inspired by the original report. This project tells the story of racial terror in America and explores how its legacy continues to shape our nation today. In support of this project, Grammy-nominee Andra Day recorded a cover of the iconic song “Strange Fruit,” originally performed by Billie Holiday in 1939. The song and accompanying music video serve as a powerful protest to racial violence, both then and now.By creating a digital experience for a wide audience, EJI hopes to spark an honest conversation about our history of racial injustice that begins a process of truth and reconciliation.More on the Equal Justice InitiativeFounded in 1989 by Bryan Stevenson, a widely acclaimed public interest lawyer and bestselling author of Just Mercy, EJI is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to challenging racial and economic injustice and providing legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced or abused in state jails and prisons. Learn more about EJI.Since 2015, EJI has received $2.5 million in grants from Google.org. Additionally, Google has been working closely with EJI to bring their racial justice work to a broad audience. Learn more about Google.org's racial justice portfolio.