Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry
Genre: Historical fiction
Premise: The intriguing story of Cassie Logan’s coming of age in Southern Mississippi is characterized on stage. A black family, The Logans struggle to maintain human dignity and personal freedom in a racist Mississippi during the times of great depression. The story is told from Cassie Logan’s point of view. She is a nine-year-old black female who faces trials and the reality of the rural Mississippi as she comes of age. The epic story transforms into an inspiring hope and triumph in a racist climate.
About: The play is performed by the youths, but this doesn’t imply that it is only child-centered. Its content is for anyone mature enough to take into consideration issues of violence in the community, solving problems, poverty, tolerance, justice, racism, and family loyalty.
Writer: Mildred D. Taylor
Details: 288 pages Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
Chapter 1
Summary
Christopher John, Cassie’s brothers, Stacey, Cassie, and the little man are sauntering to school. Suddenly, they are joined by T.J, but soon a bus which is full of white children passes, splashing The Logans and company with red mad while moving. Jeremy joins them, but soon a group of white children runs past, he is forced to leave the Logans.
The Logans soon arrive at their school. Miss Crocker, Cassie’s teacher, assigns, Cassie a seat in the first row. Dirty and old books are given to the children. Little man and Cassie try to refuse the books but are both whipped. After school, Cassie runs to explain to her mother what happened back at school but finds Miss Crocker already there.
Chapter 2-3
Summary
Big ma, Mama, and the children are picking cotton. They are forced to climb up on the poles so as to reach the highest parts of the cotton stalks. As Cassie lies upon a pole, she looks over the cotton and sees her approaching Papa. He has brought Mr. L.T Morrison to be hired as a hand man on the farm. The children seeing Mr. L.T, they suspected that he had something to do with the burnings that had been happening.
The following day, it was announced in the church that Mr. John Henry Berry died of his burns. This made people sad and frustrated. Afterward, Papa issues a warning to the children. He tells them never to go near the Wallace store.
Soon, the rainy season starts. As always, the white children’s school bus splashes the other children with mud. This makes poor children very furious. Later, Stacey thinks of a plan that makes the white children’s van to get stuck in the washout, making the unfortunate children so excited. Later in the evening, T.J’s father stops by the Logans home to warn them that the white people are required to ”ride” again. The children are terrified of causing so much trouble. That night, Cassie spots cars approaching their house.
Chapter 4
Summary
The bus incident makes The Logans pout for a whole week. Even though they felt guilty of causing trouble, they never confessed to anyone. On the way to school, the ever- gossiping T.J shows Stacey a cheat sheet that he has made. Stacey tears it down, but T.J makes another during lunchtime. During Mama’s test, he removes it, and as Mama approaches, hands it over to Stacey. Stacey takes the blame as his maturity couldn’t allow him to betray T.J.However, after school, he runs after T.J towards the Wallace store and beats him up until L.T passes by to break the fight. L.T doesn’t tell on Stacey going to the prohibited place.
Harlan Granger’s car passes by as they reach near the house. Big Mama says that he has been disturbing her because of the land. At sunset, Stacey reveals to his mother about going to the Wallace store. However, his mother doesn’t punish the children immediately. She waits until Saturday and takes them to visit one of the Berrys who didn’t die after being exposed to the fire. She explains that it is the Wallace family who burned the Berrys. Then they go one home to another, persuading people not to shop at the Wallace store, without saying a thing about the burning incident. Their efforts were successful as many people side with them.