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    Small Great Things

    by

    Picoult, Jodi

    Jodi Picoult’s Small Great Things (2016) explores themes of race, privilege, and justice through the story of Ruth Jefferson, an African American labor and delivery nurse accused of causing the death of a white supremacist couple’s newborn. The novel alternates perspectives between Ruth, the infant’s father Turk Bauer, and Ruth’s public defender Kennedy McQuarrie, revealing systemic racism and personal biases. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s quote about doing “small things in a great way,” the narrative examines moral dilemmas and societal structures. The book has been praised for its thought-provoking examination of contemporary racial tensions and is being adapted into a film.

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    Small Great Things

    Stage One: Transition — Ruth 3

    by

    Picoult, Jodi

    The chap­ter opens with Ruth and her sis­ter Adisa shar­ing lunch at a bistro, where Adisa encour­ages Ruth to treat her­self amid her cur­rent strug­gles. Ruth reflects on the new­found time she has with her sis­ter, a stark con­trast to her pre­vi­ous­ly busy sched­ule as a nurse. Their con­ver­sa­tion quick­ly turns prac­ti­cal as Adisa probes Ruth about her finan­cial sit­u­a­tion, reveal­ing Ruth has only three months of sav­ings left. Despite Adisa’s offer of help, Ruth is skep­ti­cal, giv­en her sister’s own finan­cial insta­bil­i­ty. The exchange high­lights Ruth’s pre­car­i­ous posi­tion as she nav­i­gates unem­ploy­ment and the sus­pen­sion of her nurs­ing license.

    Adisa sug­gests Ruth file for unem­ploy­ment, but Ruth resists, view­ing it as dis­hon­est since she hopes to return to nurs­ing even­tu­al­ly. The dis­cus­sion shifts to Ruth’s legal trou­bles, with Adisa ques­tion­ing the advice of Ruth’s lawyer, Kennedy. Adisa’s skep­ti­cism about Kennedy’s under­stand­ing of Ruth’s finan­cial and racial strug­gles under­scores the ten­sion between Ruth’s trust in her lawyer and Adisa’s mis­trust of the sys­tem. Ruth defends Kennedy, empha­siz­ing her role in secur­ing bail, but Adisa remains uncon­vinced, cri­tiquing the priv­i­lege she believes Kennedy embod­ies.

    Their con­ver­sa­tion takes a turn when Adisa notices activist Wal­lace Mer­cy on TV, advo­cat­ing for mar­gin­al­ized com­mu­ni­ties. Adisa sees Mer­cy as a poten­tial ally for Ruth, argu­ing that his plat­form could ampli­fy her sto­ry of racial injus­tice. Ruth, how­ev­er, is hes­i­tant, uncom­fort­able with Mercy’s con­fronta­tion­al style. Adisa pas­sion­ate­ly defends Mercy’s role as a voice for Black anger, argu­ing that his out­spo­ken­ness is nec­es­sary in a soci­ety that often silences Black per­spec­tives. Ruth remains uncon­vinced, insist­ing her legal trou­bles are unre­lat­ed to race.

    The chap­ter con­cludes with Ruth and Adisa clash­ing over whether race is a fac­tor in Ruth’s tri­al. Adisa accus­es Ruth of inter­nal­iz­ing a col­or­blind per­spec­tive, influ­enced by her white lawyer, while Ruth main­tains her focus on the fac­tu­al cir­cum­stances of the case. Their debate reflects broad­er ten­sions about sys­temic racism and per­son­al respon­si­bil­i­ty, leav­ing Ruth torn between her sister’s activism and her own desire for a straight­for­ward legal res­o­lu­tion. The chap­ter cap­tures the com­plex­i­ty of Ruth’s sit­u­a­tion, bal­anc­ing per­son­al, finan­cial, and racial dynam­ics.

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    FAQs

    • 1. What are Ruth’s primary financial concerns in this chapter, and how do they reflect her current life situation?

      Answer:
      Ruth faces significant financial instability after losing her nursing job due to the ongoing legal case. She reveals she only has about three months’ worth of savings (page 210), which creates stress about supporting herself and her son Edison. Her suspended nursing license prevents her from working in her field, and she feels overqualified for entry-level administrative jobs. This reflects her precarious position—a formerly stable professional now grappling with unemployment, legal uncertainty, and the pressure of single parenthood. The conversation with Adisa highlights how Ruth’s crisis extends beyond legal troubles to practical survival concerns.

      2. How does Adisa’s perspective on Wallace Mercy contrast with Ruth’s, and what does this reveal about their differing approaches to racial injustice?

      Answer:
      Adisa sees activist Wallace Mercy as a necessary voice who channels Black anger about systemic racism, calling him “what keeps the powder keg in this country from blowing up” (page 212). She believes Ruth’s case exemplifies racial discrimination and could benefit from his platform. Ruth, however, resists this view, finding Mercy overly combative and insisting her legal troubles stem from medical negligence, not race (page 212). This contrast reveals Adisa’s confrontational approach to racial issues versus Ruth’s inclination to downplay race—a tension reflecting Ruth’s assimilationist tendencies and Adisa’s belief in vocal activism.

      3. Analyze how the dialogue between Ruth and Adisa illustrates their sibling dynamic. What underlying tensions exist?

      Answer:
      Their banter mixes warmth with friction. Adisa teases Ruth about finances (“you can ask me for help… I didn’t say I’d be able to provide it,” page 210) and challenges her views on race, while Ruth defensively protects Kennedy (“You met her once,” page 210). Underlying tensions emerge around class (Ruth’s former stability vs. Adisa’s financial struggles) and ideology (Adisa’s skepticism of white allies vs. Ruth’s trust in Kennedy). Yet their closeness shows in Adisa’s insistence on treating Ruth to lunch and Ruth’s willingness to share vulnerabilities. The dynamic balances familial support with honest disagreement.

      4. Why does Ruth resist filing for unemployment, and what does this reveal about her character?

      Answer:
      Ruth considers unemployment benefits dishonest because she plans to return to nursing after her legal case resolves (page 210). This reflects her strong work ethic and moral rigidity—traits that align with her professional identity as a caregiver. Her reluctance also hints at pride; she takes responsibility for her situation rather than seeking systemic support. However, Adisa’s pragmatic counterarguments (“the court date wasn’t for eight months,” page 210) highlight how Ruth’s principles may clash with practical survival needs, foreshadowing her need to adapt her self-reliant mindset.

      5. How does the chapter use the television segment about Ahmed to deepen its exploration of racial bias?

      Answer:
      The Ahmed Mohamed case (page 211)—where a Muslim boy was falsely accused of bringing a bomb to school—parallels Ruth’s experience of being misjudged due to identity. Wallace Mercy’s speech (“I too was once thought to be less than I was because of how I looked”) becomes a thematic bridge between different forms of discrimination. Adisa connects this to Ruth’s situation, arguing that racial bias underlies Ruth’s legal troubles (page 212). The intercutting of the TV segment transforms a private lunch conversation into a commentary on broader patterns of racial profiling and systemic injustice.

    Quotes

    • 1. “I have been spending more time with my sister, which is both comforting and strange. Before, I was almost always working when I wasn’t with Edison; now my schedule is empty.”

      This quote highlights Ruth’s sudden life transition after losing her job, showing both the strained relationship with her sister and the unfamiliar freedom/unemployment she now faces. It sets the stage for the chapter’s exploration of financial and racial tensions.

      2. “I’m exhausted, just from being Black all day…At least he gives people like us a voice.”

      Adisa’s raw statement captures the daily toll of systemic racism, while also introducing activist Wallace Mercy’s role as an amplifier for marginalized voices. This represents a key debate in the chapter about how to confront racial injustice.

      3. “White folks have spent years giving Black folks their freedom on paper, but deep down they still expect us to say yes, massuh, and be quiet and grateful for what we got.”

      Adisa’s powerful critique of performative equality reveals the chapter’s central tension about systemic racism’s persistence. The quote encapsulates her argument about why activists like Wallace Mercy are necessary.

      4. “Of course she don’t think this is about race. She don’t think about race, period. She don’t have to.”

      This climactic quote underscores the fundamental disconnect between Ruth’s white lawyer and her lived experience as a Black woman. It crystallizes the chapter’s exploration of racial blind spots and privilege.

    Quotes

    1. “I have been spending more time with my sister, which is both comforting and strange. Before, I was almost always working when I wasn’t with Edison; now my schedule is empty.”

    This quote highlights Ruth’s sudden life transition after losing her job, showing both the strained relationship with her sister and the unfamiliar freedom/unemployment she now faces. It sets the stage for the chapter’s exploration of financial and racial tensions.

    2. “I’m exhausted, just from being Black all day…At least he gives people like us a voice.”

    Adisa’s raw statement captures the daily toll of systemic racism, while also introducing activist Wallace Mercy’s role as an amplifier for marginalized voices. This represents a key debate in the chapter about how to confront racial injustice.

    3. “White folks have spent years giving Black folks their freedom on paper, but deep down they still expect us to say yes, massuh, and be quiet and grateful for what we got.”

    Adisa’s powerful critique of performative equality reveals the chapter’s central tension about systemic racism’s persistence. The quote encapsulates her argument about why activists like Wallace Mercy are necessary.

    4. “Of course she don’t think this is about race. She don’t think about race, period. She don’t have to.”

    This climactic quote underscores the fundamental disconnect between Ruth’s white lawyer and her lived experience as a Black woman. It crystallizes the chapter’s exploration of racial blind spots and privilege.

    FAQs

    1. What are Ruth’s primary financial concerns in this chapter, and how do they reflect her current life situation?

    Answer:
    Ruth faces significant financial instability after losing her nursing job due to the ongoing legal case. She reveals she only has about three months’ worth of savings (page 210), which creates stress about supporting herself and her son Edison. Her suspended nursing license prevents her from working in her field, and she feels overqualified for entry-level administrative jobs. This reflects her precarious position—a formerly stable professional now grappling with unemployment, legal uncertainty, and the pressure of single parenthood. The conversation with Adisa highlights how Ruth’s crisis extends beyond legal troubles to practical survival concerns.

    2. How does Adisa’s perspective on Wallace Mercy contrast with Ruth’s, and what does this reveal about their differing approaches to racial injustice?

    Answer:
    Adisa sees activist Wallace Mercy as a necessary voice who channels Black anger about systemic racism, calling him “what keeps the powder keg in this country from blowing up” (page 212). She believes Ruth’s case exemplifies racial discrimination and could benefit from his platform. Ruth, however, resists this view, finding Mercy overly combative and insisting her legal troubles stem from medical negligence, not race (page 212). This contrast reveals Adisa’s confrontational approach to racial issues versus Ruth’s inclination to downplay race—a tension reflecting Ruth’s assimilationist tendencies and Adisa’s belief in vocal activism.

    3. Analyze how the dialogue between Ruth and Adisa illustrates their sibling dynamic. What underlying tensions exist?

    Answer:
    Their banter mixes warmth with friction. Adisa teases Ruth about finances (“you can ask me for help… I didn’t say I’d be able to provide it,” page 210) and challenges her views on race, while Ruth defensively protects Kennedy (“You met her once,” page 210). Underlying tensions emerge around class (Ruth’s former stability vs. Adisa’s financial struggles) and ideology (Adisa’s skepticism of white allies vs. Ruth’s trust in Kennedy). Yet their closeness shows in Adisa’s insistence on treating Ruth to lunch and Ruth’s willingness to share vulnerabilities. The dynamic balances familial support with honest disagreement.

    4. Why does Ruth resist filing for unemployment, and what does this reveal about her character?

    Answer:
    Ruth considers unemployment benefits dishonest because she plans to return to nursing after her legal case resolves (page 210). This reflects her strong work ethic and moral rigidity—traits that align with her professional identity as a caregiver. Her reluctance also hints at pride; she takes responsibility for her situation rather than seeking systemic support. However, Adisa’s pragmatic counterarguments (“the court date wasn’t for eight months,” page 210) highlight how Ruth’s principles may clash with practical survival needs, foreshadowing her need to adapt her self-reliant mindset.

    5. How does the chapter use the television segment about Ahmed to deepen its exploration of racial bias?

    Answer:
    The Ahmed Mohamed case (page 211)—where a Muslim boy was falsely accused of bringing a bomb to school—parallels Ruth’s experience of being misjudged due to identity. Wallace Mercy’s speech (“I too was once thought to be less than I was because of how I looked”) becomes a thematic bridge between different forms of discrimination. Adisa connects this to Ruth’s situation, arguing that racial bias underlies Ruth’s legal troubles (page 212). The intercutting of the TV segment transforms a private lunch conversation into a commentary on broader patterns of racial profiling and systemic injustice.

    Note