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Francis Mitchum
Ruth's sister. She was born as Rachel but in her late teens and early twenties, she decided she wanted to connect to her African roots and changed her name to Adisa. She and Ruth have always had a strained relationship, as Adisa loved their black Harlem neighborhood, spoke in Ebonics, and didn't care about education. Ruth believes that Adisa embraced every single negative stereotype of black people through her life choices: Adisa has five children, isn't married, and can barely keep minimum wage jobs. She also, in Ruth's estimation, sees prejudice and racism everywhere. Despite their rocky relationship, Adisa comes to Ruth's aid when she loses her job. Adisa helps Ruth apply for welfare and tries to convince her to accept Wallace Mercy's offer of help. She eventually decides to follow Ruth's lead and trust Kennedy, though Adisa is rude to Kennedy throughout the trial. The night before the last day of trial, Adisa admits that she stole Mama's scarf after Mama died so that Ruth wouldn't bury Mama in it. She gives the scarf to Ruth for good luck.
Rachel / Adisa Quotes in Small Great Things
The Small Great Things quotes below are all either spoken by Rachel / Adisa or refer to Rachel / Adisa. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 1, Ruth
Quotes
As Christina held my hand and Ms. Mina held Mama's, there was a moment—one heartbeat, one breath—where all the differences in schooling and money and skin color evaporated like mirages in a desert. Where everyone was equal, and it was just one woman, helping another.
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Chapter 7, Ruth
Quotes
"I'm sure the lady didn't mean anything by it," Mama pronounces.
But it didn't make me feel any less small.
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Chapter 17, Ruth
Quotes
When you're ready for us, we'll be waiting for you. At that moment, I feel another presence I haven't felt before...It's a community of people who know my name, even when I don't always remember theirs. It's a congregation that never stopped praying for me, even when I flew from the nest.
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Rachel / Adisa Quotes in Small Great Things
The Small Great Things quotes below are all either spoken by Rachel / Adisa or refer to Rachel / Adisa. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 1, Ruth
Quotes
As Christina held my hand and Ms. Mina held Mama's, there was a moment—one heartbeat, one breath—where all the differences in schooling and money and skin color evaporated like mirages in a desert. Where everyone was equal, and it was just one woman, helping another.
Related Characters:
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Chapter 7, Ruth
Quotes
"I'm sure the lady didn't mean anything by it," Mama pronounces.
But it didn't make me feel any less small.
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Chapter 17, Ruth
Quotes
When you're ready for us, we'll be waiting for you. At that moment, I feel another presence I haven't felt before...It's a community of people who know my name, even when I don't always remember theirs. It's a congregation that never stopped praying for me, even when I flew from the nest.
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