Small Great Things

Kennedy tells her husband that Ruth hates her, and they discuss the basic outlines of the arguments for and against bringing up race in a criminal trial. Then Kennedy receives a call from Wallace Mercy saying that Ruth has asked for his help on the case and will be signing a release to that effect. She argues with him, telling him Ruth’s case is her job.

Kennedy then travels to Ruth’s house to talk to her, since she knows Ruth probably wouldn’t pick up the phone if she were to just call. She argues that Ruth doesn’t want to lose control of the narrative, and that “[t]he last thing you want is for your case to be tried in the media” (258). Finally, Kennedy agrees to a compromise, saying they’ll put Ruth on the stand in her own defense.

As part of her preparation for the case, Kennedy goes to talk to someone at Ruth’s hospital. She notes that Ruth has only been promoted once in twenty years. Kennedy asks if that seems wrong and the worker deflects, saying that Ruth has been described as “prickly,” adding that Ruth has been passed over because she is seen as “uppity” (259).