Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Today’s read was a piece that chronicles life in the south as a black family in the depression era of Mississippi, though some may say some of the same discriminations happen today. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor tells the story of a black family who struggles with racism through the strong handed rich white land owners who attempt to put pressure on the family not to change the balance of power in the community. The story is told through the eyes of a nine year old girl, Cassie, one of the 4 children of a three generation household who were fortunate to have a farm land of their own. Cassie and her brothers experience direct racism by being intentionally sprayed regularly by the school bus as it passes them on their way to school. The kids faced embarrassment of being muddied daily.  But the biggest issue facing them is the “Berry burnings” where a local white store owner is believed to have killed a local black man for allegedly making a pass at a white woman. Knowing that this is a huge exaggeration, Cassie’s father (David) decides he will try and encourage other black families to boycott the store owner and go to the next city to purchase goods. The pressure on David is intense but he continues his fight, which leads his loan to be called by the bank for full payment and Mary (Cassie’s mom) loses her job as a teacher when she refuses to teach from the “white man’s history book."  Things hit the fan when Cassie’s friend, T.J., gets aligned with some white children and they force him to steal a gun from the case of another store owner.  During the scuffle the owner is killed, though not by T.J.’s actions, but by the two white children.  When the store owner is found and the two white children turn on T.J., David and the children try and come to the rescue.  What David does saves his own family, though one thinks for how long will that last?  Obviously a true story that does make me feel glad to not have lived in that era or location of the country.  I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for anyone who may be black, but also for anyone who wanted to support equal treatment of others.  More suited for young children, probably a pass for me though the lesson is important to keep in our mind.