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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 — Kennedy 3

    by

    Picoult, Jodi

    The chap­ter opens with Kennedy return­ing home after her first meet­ing with Ruth, greet­ed by the com­fort­ing aro­ma of home­made piz­za and her daugh­ter Vio­let’s enthu­si­as­tic wel­come. A light­heart­ed moment ensues as Vio­let presents a cre­ative­ly shaped piz­za resem­bling a dinosaur with an “oregano rash,” fol­lowed by her unin­ten­tion­al­ly humor­ous remark about “rep­tile dys­func­tion,” reveal­ing her expo­sure to adult-themed com­mer­cials. Kennedy’s sus­pi­cion is piqued, lead­ing her to dis­cov­er that her moth­er had been watch­ing Fox News, includ­ing Wal­lace Mer­cy’s inflam­ma­to­ry com­men­tary on a case of racial pro­fil­ing involv­ing a Black ath­lete, Malik Thad­don. The scene high­lights the gen­er­a­tional and ide­o­log­i­cal ten­sion between Kennedy and her moth­er over media con­sump­tion and child-rear­ing.

    Kennedy con­fronts her moth­er about allow­ing Vio­let to watch polit­i­cal­ly charged pro­gram­ming, empha­siz­ing her pref­er­ence for age-appro­pri­ate con­tent like *Sesame Street*. Her moth­er defends her actions, argu­ing that expo­sure to cur­rent events is edu­ca­tion­al, even for a four-year-old. The dis­agree­ment esca­lates as Kennedy express­es con­cern about Vio­let inter­nal­iz­ing fears of racial injus­tice, while her moth­er dis­miss­es the impact, insist­ing the child was obliv­i­ous to the deep­er issues. The clash under­scores their dif­fer­ing per­spec­tives on par­ent­ing and the influ­ence of media, with Kennedy pri­or­i­tiz­ing pro­tec­tion and her moth­er advo­cat­ing for ear­ly aware­ness.

    The ten­sion between the two women con­tin­ues as Kennedy’s moth­er crit­i­cizes Wal­lace Mer­cy’s aggres­sive rhetoric, sug­gest­ing that his anger under­mines his mes­sage. Kennedy, how­ev­er, sub­tly chal­lenges her moth­er’s dis­mis­sive atti­tude toward sys­temic racism, hint­ing at her grow­ing aware­ness of racial dis­par­i­ties. The con­ver­sa­tion is cut short as Kennedy, exhaust­ed, opts to table the dis­cus­sion. Her moth­er’s sar­cas­tic remark about being treat­ed as “hired help” reveals her frus­tra­tion, yet Kennedy lat­er reflects on her moth­er’s unwa­ver­ing love and care for Vio­let, despite their dif­fer­ences.

    The chap­ter con­cludes with Kennedy read­ing bed­time sto­ries to Vio­let, her mind drift­ing back to Ruth and the stark con­trast in their lived expe­ri­ences. She real­izes that while her daugh­ter is unlike­ly to face racial pro­fil­ing, Ruth’s child might not share that priv­i­lege. This moment of intro­spec­tion is inter­rupt­ed by Vio­let’s demand for atten­tion, bring­ing Kennedy back to the present. The chap­ter sub­tly weaves togeth­er themes of fam­i­ly dynam­ics, racial aware­ness, and the chal­lenges of par­ent­ing in a divid­ed world, leav­ing read­ers with a poignant reflec­tion on priv­i­lege and empa­thy.

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    FAQs

    • 1. What incident involving Malik Thaddon is being discussed on the news program Kennedy’s mother is watching, and how does it relate to the broader themes in this chapter?

      Answer:
      The news segment discusses Malik Thaddon, a celebrated athlete who was mistakenly apprehended by four police officers outside his hotel—a case of mistaken identity that civil rights activist Wallace Mercy frames as racial profiling. This incident mirrors the chapter’s exploration of racial bias and systemic injustice, particularly through Kennedy’s reflection that her white daughter Violet is far less likely to experience such treatment than Ruth, her Black client. The scene underscores how racial dynamics shape perceptions of safety and justice, even in casual family conversations about media consumption.

      2. How does Kennedy’s interaction with her mother reveal generational differences in their approaches to parenting and racial awareness?

      Answer:
      Kennedy’s mother defends watching Fox News (including conservative commentary like The Five) during Violet’s naptime, dismissing Wallace Mercy’s activism as “ridiculous” and suggesting marginalized groups would be more effective if they weren’t “so angry.” Kennedy, however, shields Violet from such content, recognizing its potential to prematurely expose her to racial tensions. Their debate highlights a generational divide: the mother minimizes systemic racism as “misunderstandings,” while Kennedy—though still grappling with her own biases—shows greater sensitivity to how racial narratives might impact her child’s worldview.

      3. Analyze the significance of Violet’s joke about the dinosaur’s “reptile dysfunction.” How does this moment contribute to the chapter’s tone and themes?

      Answer:
      Violet’s unintentional pun (a childlike twist on “erectile dysfunction”) humorously exposes her grandmother’s unsupervised TV habits, but it also serves as a thematic pivot. The joke lightens the mood before transitioning to a heavier discussion about racial bias, illustrating how innocence intersects with societal issues. Kennedy’s realization that Violet could absorb problematic messages from media parallels her later reflection on Ruth’s vulnerability to racial profiling—both moments explore how systemic issues permeate even domestic spaces, whether through overt news coverage or subtle biases.

      4. Why does Kennedy’s thought about Ruth’s vulnerability to police action (“the odds of my child being a victim… are considerably smaller than, say, Ruth’s”) mark a pivotal moment in her character development?

      Answer:
      This introspection signifies Kennedy’s growing, if reluctant, awareness of her white privilege. While she initially dismisses her mother’s conservative views as harmless to Violet, her acknowledgment of Ruth’s disproportionate risk reveals a dawning understanding of systemic inequality. The moment is pivotal because it contrasts her protective instincts for Violet with Ruth’s lived reality, suggesting Kennedy’s legal perspective may be evolving to include empathy for racial disparities—a crucial step in her journey as Ruth’s defense attorney.

      5. How does the chapter use mundane domestic details (e.g., pizza, bedtime routines) to frame larger societal issues?

      Answer:
      The ordinary backdrop of homemade pizza, coloring, and bedtime stories contrasts sharply with the racial tensions surfacing in the news and Kennedy’s thoughts. This juxtaposition emphasizes how systemic racism infiltrates daily life: Wallace Mercy’s protest and Malik Thaddon’s arrest intrude via the TV, while Kennedy’s parenting choices (like banning certain media) reflect unconscious racial socialization. The chapter suggests that “small” moments—whether a child’s joke or a grandmother’s offhand remark—are microcosms of broader societal dynamics, making complex issues accessible through familial intimacy.

    Quotes

    • 1. “My brothers and sisters! I ask you: when did the word misunderstanding become synonymous with racial profiling?”

      This quote from Wallace Mercy’s televised speech captures the central tension around racial injustice and police bias that permeates the chapter. It represents the public debate about systemic racism that Kennedy is forced to confront both professionally (through Ruth’s case) and personally (through her mother’s conservative views).

      2. “You know, if they weren’t so angry all the time, maybe more people would listen to them.”

      Kennedy’s mother’s remark about Black activists reveals the generational divide in perspectives on racial justice. This passive-aggressive comment sparks Kennedy’s internal conflict about privilege and sets up her later realization about her daughter’s safety versus Ruth’s reality.

      3. “Violet doesn’t need to think that the police might grab her one day. But honestly, the odds of my child being a victim of mistaken identity are considerably smaller than, say, Ruth’s.”

      This pivotal internal monologue shows Kennedy’s growing awareness of racial privilege. The contrast between her white daughter’s safety and her Black client’s vulnerability represents the chapter’s central theme about unconscious bias and systemic inequality.

    Quotes

    1. “My brothers and sisters! I ask you: when did the word misunderstanding become synonymous with racial profiling?”

    This quote from Wallace Mercy’s televised speech captures the central tension around racial injustice and police bias that permeates the chapter. It represents the public debate about systemic racism that Kennedy is forced to confront both professionally (through Ruth’s case) and personally (through her mother’s conservative views).

    2. “You know, if they weren’t so angry all the time, maybe more people would listen to them.”

    Kennedy’s mother’s remark about Black activists reveals the generational divide in perspectives on racial justice. This passive-aggressive comment sparks Kennedy’s internal conflict about privilege and sets up her later realization about her daughter’s safety versus Ruth’s reality.

    3. “Violet doesn’t need to think that the police might grab her one day. But honestly, the odds of my child being a victim of mistaken identity are considerably smaller than, say, Ruth’s.”

    This pivotal internal monologue shows Kennedy’s growing awareness of racial privilege. The contrast between her white daughter’s safety and her Black client’s vulnerability represents the chapter’s central theme about unconscious bias and systemic inequality.

    FAQs

    1. What incident involving Malik Thaddon is being discussed on the news program Kennedy’s mother is watching, and how does it relate to the broader themes in this chapter?

    Answer:
    The news segment discusses Malik Thaddon, a celebrated athlete who was mistakenly apprehended by four police officers outside his hotel—a case of mistaken identity that civil rights activist Wallace Mercy frames as racial profiling. This incident mirrors the chapter’s exploration of racial bias and systemic injustice, particularly through Kennedy’s reflection that her white daughter Violet is far less likely to experience such treatment than Ruth, her Black client. The scene underscores how racial dynamics shape perceptions of safety and justice, even in casual family conversations about media consumption.

    2. How does Kennedy’s interaction with her mother reveal generational differences in their approaches to parenting and racial awareness?

    Answer:
    Kennedy’s mother defends watching Fox News (including conservative commentary like The Five) during Violet’s naptime, dismissing Wallace Mercy’s activism as “ridiculous” and suggesting marginalized groups would be more effective if they weren’t “so angry.” Kennedy, however, shields Violet from such content, recognizing its potential to prematurely expose her to racial tensions. Their debate highlights a generational divide: the mother minimizes systemic racism as “misunderstandings,” while Kennedy—though still grappling with her own biases—shows greater sensitivity to how racial narratives might impact her child’s worldview.

    3. Analyze the significance of Violet’s joke about the dinosaur’s “reptile dysfunction.” How does this moment contribute to the chapter’s tone and themes?

    Answer:
    Violet’s unintentional pun (a childlike twist on “erectile dysfunction”) humorously exposes her grandmother’s unsupervised TV habits, but it also serves as a thematic pivot. The joke lightens the mood before transitioning to a heavier discussion about racial bias, illustrating how innocence intersects with societal issues. Kennedy’s realization that Violet could absorb problematic messages from media parallels her later reflection on Ruth’s vulnerability to racial profiling—both moments explore how systemic issues permeate even domestic spaces, whether through overt news coverage or subtle biases.

    4. Why does Kennedy’s thought about Ruth’s vulnerability to police action (“the odds of my child being a victim… are considerably smaller than, say, Ruth’s”) mark a pivotal moment in her character development?

    Answer:
    This introspection signifies Kennedy’s growing, if reluctant, awareness of her white privilege. While she initially dismisses her mother’s conservative views as harmless to Violet, her acknowledgment of Ruth’s disproportionate risk reveals a dawning understanding of systemic inequality. The moment is pivotal because it contrasts her protective instincts for Violet with Ruth’s lived reality, suggesting Kennedy’s legal perspective may be evolving to include empathy for racial disparities—a crucial step in her journey as Ruth’s defense attorney.

    5. How does the chapter use mundane domestic details (e.g., pizza, bedtime routines) to frame larger societal issues?

    Answer:
    The ordinary backdrop of homemade pizza, coloring, and bedtime stories contrasts sharply with the racial tensions surfacing in the news and Kennedy’s thoughts. This juxtaposition emphasizes how systemic racism infiltrates daily life: Wallace Mercy’s protest and Malik Thaddon’s arrest intrude via the TV, while Kennedy’s parenting choices (like banning certain media) reflect unconscious racial socialization. The chapter suggests that “small” moments—whether a child’s joke or a grandmother’s offhand remark—are microcosms of broader societal dynamics, making complex issues accessible through familial intimacy.

    Note