I just finished reading Jodi Picoult’s book on racism, Small Great Things. The title comes from a quote attributed to Martin Luther King
“If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.”
The book is about recognizing the racism we have in ourselves. About a third of the way through I almost stopped reading it because I was so disturbed by the descriptions of activities of the families who believed in White Supremecy and White Power. But I was drawn to keep reading it and I’m glad I did.
It’s the story of an African American woman who is a nurse. At her place of work, she encounters a couple who are having a baby and they believe in White Supremacy. The father makes a request to the hospital administration that this nurse not be allowed to care for their baby because she was black. The baby ends up dying and the couple hold the nurse responsible and they go to trial.
Chapters were written from the main characters perspectives- Turk- the white supremist Dad, the nurse, and the nurse’s attorney (who was white). This gave you an understanding of where each person was coming from and what they were learning from each other.
The book delves into the subtle racism that many white people are not aware of. The institutional power that white people have that we don’t think of on a daily basis. The privilege we don’t think about at all. For example the attorney is shopping with the nurse, and the cashier asks to see the receipt of the nurse but not the attorney. You get the sense there is always an underlying suspicion with the African Americans.
My Story with Racism
I grew up in Seattle. When I was in 3rd grade my mom didn’t like the teacher I was going to have at our neighborhood school so she signed me up for the bus desegregation program. I was bussed out to an elementary school in the Central District which was primarily black people. I have no idea the percentage of white and black people. I was in a special program there for 3rd and 4th grade; white kids were the majority. I remember some of the black girls, would say things like “What you looking at? I’ll kick your booty after school!” They never did beat me up after school but as a shy, quiet girl, I was really scared! Then I went to middle school in the same area. Again in a special program where I don’t remember any black kids in it. It was mostly wealthy kids from an area called Madison. While I’m sure Seattle Public Schools had a good intent, if we were in separate programs, were we really ‘desegregating?’ What did it really accomplish?
I know from that experience that I have some racism in me. I think most of us do. Now I have had good friends that are black. I love Obama and his family. I treat kids in my class that are black the same way as any other kids. As Jodi Picoult states in her book, many white people would describe themselves as not racist. But they’ve done studies, that white people are racist on subtle levels that they are not even aware of.
This book does an incredible job of letting us see the different perspectives and understand the characters, even the White Supremist.
The World Today Needs Some A Lot of Help!
Our nation today is in upheaval with the latest Presidential candidate.
This book is about creating awareness and understanding. Do you see any parts of racism within yourself?
Zen Y’all,
Kim
Upcoming classes in Portland, OR
Girls Rock Empowerment Groups
For Middle school girls, starts 1/19/17 at OmBase in Hillsdale
For 4th and 5th grade girls, starts 1/26/17 at Hayhurst Elementary
Managing Screens for Middle School Girls 2/3/17 10am-3:30pm at Robert Gray Middle School