Roll of Thunder,Roll of Thunder,Hear My CryHear My Cry

By Mildred D. TaylorBy Mildred D. Taylor

PowerPoint by:PowerPoint by:Arlene Acevedo-DavisArlene Acevedo-Davis

The First Day of SchoolThe First Day of School The excitement Little Man feels toward The excitement Little Man feels toward

his first day of school quickly his first day of school quickly disappears upon receiving his disappears upon receiving his textbook. Realizing that the textbooks textbook. Realizing that the textbooks are ten years old, hand-me downs from are ten years old, hand-me downs from the white school and specifies his race the white school and specifies his race as nigra infuriates him. As Cassie as nigra infuriates him. As Cassie attempts to explain Little Man’s attempts to explain Little Man’s actions to Miss Crocker, it is made actions to Miss Crocker, it is made clear that the children are expected to clear that the children are expected to remain “in their place” and not remain “in their place” and not contradict higher authority. contradict higher authority. Unfortunately, Little Man’s experience Unfortunately, Little Man’s experience at school introduces him to racism and at school introduces him to racism and the reality that not all blacks will stand the reality that not all blacks will stand up to injustices they face.up to injustices they face.

Cassie explains to Miss Crocker “See, Cassie explains to Miss Crocker “See, Miz Crocker, see what it says. They Miz Crocker, see what it says. They give us these ole books when they give us these ole books when they didn’t want them no more. He can’t didn’t want them no more. He can’t read all them big words, but he can read all them big words, but he can read them columns. See what’s in the read them columns. See what’s in the last row, Please look, Miz Crocker. S-last row, Please look, Miz Crocker. S-see what they called us.” (p.26)see what they called us.” (p.26)

Miss Crocker responds to Cassie Miss Crocker responds to Cassie “That’s what you are, Now go sit “That’s what you are, Now go sit down.” (p.26)down.” (p.26)

The Road BlockThe Road Block An obstacle faced by many of An obstacle faced by many of

the black students en route to the black students en route to school was Mr. Grimes and his school was Mr. Grimes and his school bus. Cassie and the school bus. Cassie and the other children were often run other children were often run off the dirt road by Mr. Grimes, off the dirt road by Mr. Grimes, while he and the white students while he and the white students laughed at them running for laughed at them running for safety. Stacey and the children safety. Stacey and the children decided to take matters into decided to take matters into their own hands and develop a their own hands and develop a plan to “wash out” the dirt plan to “wash out” the dirt road. This was their attempt to road. This was their attempt to retaliate against the dangerous retaliate against the dangerous behavior they encountered on behavior they encountered on their way to school. Although their way to school. Although their goal was to obstruct the their goal was to obstruct the dirt road, an unexpected large dirt road, an unexpected large rainfall, magnified the size of rainfall, magnified the size of the hole in the road. Had the hole in the road. Had injuries occurred as a result of injuries occurred as a result of their actions, and foul play their actions, and foul play suspected, this could have suspected, this could have brought harm to the black brought harm to the black community and/or worse the community and/or worse the Logan family itself.Logan family itself.

The Night MenThe Night Men The visit by the night men put The visit by the night men put

everyone at the Logan home on edge. everyone at the Logan home on edge. Since their appearance occurred Since their appearance occurred shortly after the Logan children shortly after the Logan children “washed out” the road, they thought “washed out” the road, they thought the night men were coming for them. the night men were coming for them. Overcome by guilt the children Overcome by guilt the children considered confessing their actions. considered confessing their actions. The sight of the night men terrified The sight of the night men terrified the children into not saying a word the children into not saying a word about the roadblock. However, it about the roadblock. However, it intensified their fear and the intensified their fear and the possibility of harm coming to their possibility of harm coming to their family. family.

Cassie thought to herselfCassie thought to herself “But soon, “But soon, against my will, the vision of ghostly against my will, the vision of ghostly headlights soaked into my mind and headlights soaked into my mind and an uncontrollable trembling racked my an uncontrollable trembling racked my body.” (p. 68)body.” (p. 68)

The adults on the other hand, saw the The adults on the other hand, saw the visit by the night men as their attempt visit by the night men as their attempt to impose their power over the black to impose their power over the black community.community.

Mr. Avery stated “ But y’all knows Mr. Avery stated “ But y’all knows how they is. Anytime they thinks we how they is. Anytime they thinks we steppin’ outa our steppin’ outa our placeplace, they feels like , they feels like they gotta stop us. You know what they gotta stop us. You know what some of ‘em done to the Berrys. It some of ‘em done to the Berrys. It don’t take but a little of nothin’ to set don’t take but a little of nothin’ to set them devilish night men off.” (p. 62)them devilish night men off.” (p. 62)

Trip to StrawberryTrip to Strawberry Cassie’s trip to Strawberry proved to be a Cassie’s trip to Strawberry proved to be a

life altering experience. Although she life altering experience. Although she had encountered some racism in other had encountered some racism in other aspects of her life, none were as blatant aspects of her life, none were as blatant as what she suffered in Strawberry. Her as what she suffered in Strawberry. Her youthful ignorance to the ingrained youthful ignorance to the ingrained prejudice held by many whites led to prejudice held by many whites led to many problems in this town. Her many problems in this town. Her experience in the General Store and with experience in the General Store and with Lillian Jean could have developed into a Lillian Jean could have developed into a very dangerous situation not only for very dangerous situation not only for Cassie but also her companions. This Cassie but also her companions. This scene provides a coming of age scene provides a coming of age experience which enlightens Cassie to the experience which enlightens Cassie to the complex social relationships between complex social relationships between blacks and whites during this time period. blacks and whites during this time period. Cassie is now aware of the views shared Cassie is now aware of the views shared by many whites against blacks, and how by many whites against blacks, and how she is “expected” to behave in public.she is “expected” to behave in public.

Once home, Mary explained to her “Baby, Once home, Mary explained to her “Baby, you had to grow up a little today. I wish…you had to grow up a little today. I wish…well, no matter what I wish. It happened well, no matter what I wish. It happened and you have to accept the fact that in and you have to accept the fact that in the world outside this house, things are the world outside this house, things are not always as we would have them to be.” not always as we would have them to be.” (p. 126) “Baby, we have no choice of (p. 126) “Baby, we have no choice of what color we’re born or who our parents what color we’re born or who our parents are or whether we’re rich or poor. What are or whether we’re rich or poor. What we do have is some choice over what we we do have is some choice over what we make of our lives once we’re here. And I make of our lives once we’re here. And I pray to God you’ll make the best of pray to God you’ll make the best of yours.” (p.129)yours.” (p.129)

Cassie vs. Lillian JeanCassie vs. Lillian Jean After her incident with Lillian After her incident with Lillian

Jean in Strawberry, Cassie Jean in Strawberry, Cassie devised a very well thought-devised a very well thought-out plan for revenge. out plan for revenge. Pretending to be Lillian Jean’s Pretending to be Lillian Jean’s servant, Cassie gained access servant, Cassie gained access to all of Lillian Jean’s secrets. to all of Lillian Jean’s secrets. Cassie befriended her and Cassie befriended her and allowed Lillian Jean to trust allowed Lillian Jean to trust her. Once Cassie had enough her. Once Cassie had enough ammunition to blackmail ammunition to blackmail Lillian Jean, she decided to do Lillian Jean, she decided to do what she wanted to do since what she wanted to do since their altercation in their altercation in Strawberry. Knowing that Strawberry. Knowing that Lillian would not tell anyone Lillian would not tell anyone about the fight in order to about the fight in order to prevent her deepest secrets prevent her deepest secrets from being exposed to from being exposed to everyone, Cassie was content. everyone, Cassie was content. I think it was wise for Cassie I think it was wise for Cassie to teach Lillian her lesson this to teach Lillian her lesson this way because she was able to way because she was able to stand up for herself without stand up for herself without creating a harmful situation creating a harmful situation for herself and her family.for herself and her family.

Talking with DadTalking with Dad David explains to Cassie “You see that fig David explains to Cassie “You see that fig

tree over yonder, Cassie? Them other tree over yonder, Cassie? Them other trees all around … that oak and walnut, trees all around … that oak and walnut, they’re a lot bigger and they take up more they’re a lot bigger and they take up more room and give so much shade they almost room and give so much shade they almost overshadow that little ole fig. But that fig overshadow that little ole fig. But that fig tree’s got roots that run deep, and it tree’s got roots that run deep, and it belongs in that yard as much as that oak belongs in that yard as much as that oak and walnut. It keeps on blooming, bearing and walnut. It keeps on blooming, bearing good fruit year after year, knowing all the good fruit year after year, knowing all the time it’ll never get as big as them other time it’ll never get as big as them other trees. Just keeps on growing and doing trees. Just keeps on growing and doing what it gotta do. It don’t give up. It give what it gotta do. It don’t give up. It give up, it’ll die. There’s a lesson to be learned up, it’ll die. There’s a lesson to be learned from that little tree, Cassie girl, ‘cause from that little tree, Cassie girl, ‘cause we’re like it. We keep doing what we we’re like it. We keep doing what we gotta, and we don’t give up. We can’t.” gotta, and we don’t give up. We can’t.” (p. 205-206)(p. 205-206)

The comparison between the fig tree and The comparison between the fig tree and the Logan family expresses their view the Logan family expresses their view about their right as people, and their place about their right as people, and their place in society. The Logan’s have had a desire in society. The Logan’s have had a desire for a better life, and have made numerous for a better life, and have made numerous attempts to achieve this.attempts to achieve this.

Cassie has always experienced love and Cassie has always experienced love and support from her family. That is the core support from her family. That is the core structure that defines her, keeps her structure that defines her, keeps her grounded and allows for her advancement. grounded and allows for her advancement. As her father mentioned if she doesn’t As her father mentioned if she doesn’t stand up for herself and respect herself, stand up for herself and respect herself, no one else will.no one else will.

The Night of the FireThe Night of the Fire Realizing that T.J. is in dire need of help, Realizing that T.J. is in dire need of help,

Stacy, Cassie, Christopher-John and Little Stacy, Cassie, Christopher-John and Little man come to his rescue. Unfortunately, man come to his rescue. Unfortunately, T.J.’s “friendship” with R.W. and Melvin has T.J.’s “friendship” with R.W. and Melvin has turned deadly. R.W. and Melvin never saw turned deadly. R.W. and Melvin never saw themselves as equals to T.J. Instead, they themselves as equals to T.J. Instead, they viewed themselves as superiors who had the viewed themselves as superiors who had the authority to do as they pleased with him. authority to do as they pleased with him. This idea of superiority is a reoccurring This idea of superiority is a reoccurring theme used to empower whites. Knowing theme used to empower whites. Knowing that the lives of innocent people, the Avery that the lives of innocent people, the Avery family, are in jeopardy, David resorts to family, are in jeopardy, David resorts to drastic measures. Starting a fire on his drastic measures. Starting a fire on his property amidst a thunder storm provides property amidst a thunder storm provides just the distraction to save T.J. for the time just the distraction to save T.J. for the time being. Attempting to put out the fire, both being. Attempting to put out the fire, both blacks and whites began to work together blacks and whites began to work together side by side.side by side.

Although Cassie has experienced racism first Although Cassie has experienced racism first hand, I think she still holds an optimistic hand, I think she still holds an optimistic view for the future. She is aware that there view for the future. She is aware that there are good and bad people both black and are good and bad people both black and white. I feel Cassie views the difference in white. I feel Cassie views the difference in treatment between the races and unfair, and treatment between the races and unfair, and she is frightened about losing T.J. and their she is frightened about losing T.J. and their land. However, she knows that she can’t land. However, she knows that she can’t give up her desire for equality.give up her desire for equality.

What had happened to T.J. in the night I did What had happened to T.J. in the night I did not understand, but I knew it would not not understand, but I knew it would not pass. And I cried for those things which had pass. And I cried for those things which had happened in the night and would not pass. I happened in the night and would not pass. I cried for T.J. For T.J. and the land. (p.276cried for T.J. For T.J. and the land. (p.276))

Image SourcesImage Sources Flooded school bus: Flooded school bus:

pictureqld.slq.qld.gov.aupictureqld.slq.qld.gov.au/home/features/big-wet/home/features/big-wet Car headlights: Car headlights:

www.the-instructor.com/update.htmlwww.the-instructor.com/update.html White Only Sign: White Only Sign:

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4482988.stmnews.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4482988.stm Fig tree: Fig tree:

http://www.stock-photography.co.za/stock-photography-fig-http://www.stock-photography.co.za/stock-photography-fig-tree.htmtree.htm

Wild Fire: Wild Fire: www.weather.com/safeside/fire/index.htmlwww.weather.com/safeside/fire/index.html

Book cover:Book cover:http://www.meaning.ca/images/book_covers/http://www.meaning.ca/images/book_covers/roll_thunder.jpgroll_thunder.jpg

All other images were found at Microsoft Office Online All other images were found at Microsoft Office Online Clipart http://office.microsoft.com/clipartClipart http://office.microsoft.com/clipart