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2115 Ross Gay Is that Eric Garner worked for some time for the Parks and Rec. Horticultural Department, which means, perhaps, that with his very large hands, perhaps, in all likelihood, he put gently into the earth some plants which, most likely, some of them, in all likelihood, continue to grow, continue to do what such plants do, like house and feed small and necessary creatures, like being pleasant to touch and smell, like converting sunlight into food, like making it easier for us to breathe. 2015 QUESTIONS Understanding and Interpreting 1. How does the speaker characterize Eric Garner through his work as a horticulturalist for the New York City Parks Department? 2. What are some of the outcomes the speaker suggests are the result of Garner%u2019s work as a horticulturalist? How can these outcomes be translated into actions that improve the quality of life for all? 3. Why is Garner%u2019s work both a small and a needful fact? How does the title figure into the structure and the meaning of the poem? 4. Why do you think Ross Gay ended the poem with the words %u201clike making it easier / for us to breathe%u201d? 51015Andrew Toth/Getty ImagesA Small Needful Fact Ross Gay Ross Gay (b. 1974) grew up in Levittown, Pennsylvania, and has a BA from Lafayette College, an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College, and a PhD from Temple University. He is the author of four books of poetry and three collections of essays, including The Book of Delights (2019) and The Book of (More) Delights (2023). The New York Review of Books has called his poetry %u201ctender, tactile, and human.%u201d He is also the founding editor of the online sports magazine Some Call It Ballin%u2019 . KEY CONTEXT In July 2014, Eric Garner, who worked as a horticulturalist, or gardening expert, for the New York City Department of Parks, died when he was arrested and put in a chokehold by a police officer. A grand jury decided not to indict that officer, and Garner%u2019s death became an early rallying point for protesting police brutality. He repeated his final words, which were %u201cI can%u2019t breathe,%u201d eleven times before he died. Many social justice activists have referred to this sentence as a representation of what it means to be Black in modern-day America. KEY CONTEXT In July 2014, Eric Garner, who worked as a horticulturalist, or gardening expert, for Copyright %u00a9 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. For review purposes only. Not for redistribution.