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Chapter 29, Kennedy
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Small Great Things, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Racism: Hate, Fear, and Grief
Institutional Racism
Belonging and Community
Family and Shared Humanity
The Justice System and the Politics of Speech
Summary
Analysis
Ruth walks out of the courtroom in a daze. She feels different, but also like nothing has changed. She texts Edison, calls Adisa, and gets a text from Christina. Kennedy and Howard assure Ruth that it's over, and Kennedy invites Ruth out for lunch. Ruth feels like suddenly, she and Kennedy are on equal footing.
Now that Kennedy is no longer representing Ruth, the two of them can move forward and continue to connect as parents and as friends. Ruth can do the same with Christina, now that Christina is willing to listen.
Themes
Ruth remembers that she forgot Mama's scarf in the courtroom. She runs back to get it and stands alone with the scarf. She thinks that Edison might one day argue a case here and feels free for the first time.
Running back for Mama's scarf mirrors how Ruth eventually returned to her black community—triumphant, and feeling like anything is possible.
Themes
