Historical Significance
The time period in which Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry takes place.
What is The Great Depression in the 1930's?
Classes at Great Faith School grow smaller in the higher grades with each passing year due to this reason.
Students were needed to help in the fields. As they got older, school became less of a priority.
This quote describes one of the four Logan children, “... he took little interest in troublesome things, preferring to remain on good terms with everyone.”
Who is Christopher John, aged 7?
The narrator of this story.
Who is Cassie Logan, aged 9?
On the first day of school, Little Man got in trouble because of something he did.
He refused to take the book because it was in such poor condition and used a derogatory word inside the front cover.
The Logan family lives in a farming community located in this state.
What is Mississippi?
There are several things we know about TJ's character from his interactions with others. Name three.
1. He lets Stacey take the blame when TJ is caught cheating.
This character says this ironic quote, “Friends gotta trust each other, Stacey, ‘cause ain’t nothin’ like a true friend.”
TJ - it is ironic because he repeatedly manipulates others, lets them take the blame for his actions, and tricks others into doing what he wants.
A white man who is always trying to get control of the Logan's land because he believes that it should rightfully belong to him and his family.
Who is Harlan Granger?
This was the way that Stacey devised to get revenge on the white bus driver who continuously harassed the children on their way to school.
They sneaked away at lunchtime and dug a huge hole in the middle of the road and then filled it in with water to make it look like a puddle.
Strict laws that governed the ways different races associated with one another; in theory these laws were meant to create separate but equal treatment for all.
What are The Jim Crow Laws?
How does TJ trick Stacey into giving him his brand new coat from Uncle Hammer?
He repeatedly calls him "Reverend" and makes fun of the way the coat fits him. Stacey gives TJ the coat.
This quote sums up the overall theme of the novel. "Everybody born on this earth is something and nobody, no matter what color, is better than anybody else." Who said this?
Who is Mama?
This is the man whom Papa brought home from the railroad. He stayed with the Logans, helped out, and offered protection while Papa was away.
Mr. Morrison
This is the reason that Mama took the children to visit Mr. Berry, a man who survived an attack from the Wallaces.
She wanted them to understand why they were not permitted to go to the Wallace's store. She needed them to understand what the Wallaces were capable of doing to people who were different than them.
Papa worked here for long stretches of time in order to provide for the family.
What is Louisiana, laying track for the railroad?
Which member of the Simms family comes to visit on Christmas Day bringing gifts for the family and for Stacey?
Jeremy Simms, the boy who enjoys walking to school with the black children.
Who said the following quote? "It's tough out there . . . as long as there are people, there's gonna be somebody tryin got take what you got and trying to drag you down. It's up to you whether you let them or not." What was it in response to?
Uncle Hammer said this to Stacey after he gave TJ his coat.
This family member arrives in town for a visit driving a fancy car, just like Mr. Granger's.
What happens when Big Ma takes Cassie, Stacey, and TJ into Strawberry with her?
There is an altercation between Cassie and Mr. Barnett at the Barnett's store as well as an altercation with Lillian Jean while on the sidewalk. Cassie doesn't understand why white people are allowed to treat her differently because she's black.
A tenant farmer who is provided with credit for seed, tools, living quarters, and food, who works the land, and who receives an agreed share of the value of the crop minus charges.
What are sharecroppers?
What did Cassie do to Lillian Jean later in the book, after the incident in Strawberry where Cassie had to apologize for bumping into her.
She pretended to be Lillian Jean's friend and then beat her up.
After going to the Wallace's store to fight TJ, someone said these words to the children, "Ain't never no reason good enough to go disobey your mama."
Who is Mr. Morrison?
This white man offered to back the black families and extend them credit so that they did not have to continue to shop at the Wallace's store.
Mr. Jamison, the lawyer
What happened to Mama after TJ told others that she was the one responsible for starting the boycott against the Wallace's store?
The school board visited her classroom and then fired her.