Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry: Discussion Prompt

[Julie]

Before class, please post a quote from the book and one sentence commenting in on the quote. Happy reading!

[Emery]

In the afternoon when I awakened, or tomorrow or the next day, the boys and I would still be free to run the red road, to wander through the old forest and sprawl lazily on the banks of the pond. Come October, we would trudge to school as always, barefooted and grumbling, fighting the dust and the mud and the Jefferson Davis school bus. But T.J. never would again.

I liked this passage because it essentially sums up the theme of freedom that is present throughout the novel, it shows that the Logan children are still free to roam their land, but they must now do it with the burden of knowledge of 1930s Mississippi race relations.

[Kimberly]

"It don't give it. It give up, it'll die. There's a lesson to be learned from that little tree, Cassie girl, 'cause we're like it. We keep doing what we gotta, and we don't give up. We can't."- Papa (206)

This quote really resonated with me because it explained the motivation behind the Logan family's desire to make things better for the people of color of their community; even if that meant threats, injury, lost cotton, and less money for their own family.

[Hanna]

"Papa had found a way, as Mama had asked, to make Mr. Granger stop the hanging: He had started the fire." - Cassie (273)

This quote showed how selfless the David Logan was and how he was willing to risk losing his cotton field in order to help stop the beatings at the Averys; David led his life by example, showing his children the correct way to treat blacks and whites.

[Hannah]

"Baby, you had to grow up a little today. I wish... well, no matter what I wish. It happened and you have to accept the fact that in the world outside this house, things are not always how we would have them to be." (126)

Reading along with Cassie as she slowly begins to learn about the world around her and the racism that is such a large part of it was both heart wrenching and eye-opening, and was probably my favorite aspect of the novel. This quote evidences the growing up she was forced to do, and causes me to think about what it might have been like to experience racism in the unpleasant way that Cassie and so many other children did.

[Kelsey]

"Friends gotta trust each other, Stacey, 'cause ain't nothin' like a true friend." -TJ (77)

This quote from the book really spoke to me because of the truth that lies within it. While TJ may not be the best example of a friend, he shows he understands the importance of having a good one, and as I get older I'm discovering a good friend is worth a thousand lousy ones.

[Lauren]

"It was only then that I realized that Jeremy never rode the bus, no matter how bad the weather." (49)

I like this quote from the book because it shows that even a small action can make a difference to someone. In this passage, Cassie recognizes that Jeremy is different from the other kids who ride the bus.