Roll of Thunder.

Critical essay
Mildred D. Taylor’s inspiring novel ‘Roll of Thunder Hear my Cry’ shows the African American experience during the 1930’s.   The story is told through young Cassie Logan’s eyes showing the emotional torment of segregation and racism brought to the black community. Other main themes in the novel apart from racism are the importance of family as the Logan’s stand by each other through the community crisis and love each other. Taylor also uses symbolism in the novel , like the weather which seemed to echo human emotions. As the climax of the incident occurs and the fire is blazing the rain pours, the wind blows and the thunder roars.
The novel is set in rural Mississippi in 1930s. The novel follows young Cassie Logan as she matures and realises the extent of racism in the south through personal humiliation in strawberry and also her family experiences. Cassie also learns the importance of family, love and self-respect.   It starts off as the Logan children trek to school for a new year, as they get into class and new books are given out which are in poor condition the youngest Logan son ‘Little Man’ is annoyed at the book he has been given as on the back page it has ‘nigger’ written on it. From this point on Cassie and her brothers discover the horrid truth of racial prejudice in the   for bumping into ‘miz Lillian Jean’, Cassie stands up for herself and refuses to apologies till Mr Simms gets involved threatening Cassie and Big Ma makes her apologies, Cassie leaves strawberry hurt and confused by the way she was treated. Through the novel events like this take place showing the coming of age though the hurt of racism. The events climax by the last two chapters giving us the family and community crisis.
A powerful quote that shows Taylor bringing about the idea of self-respect and resilience ‘You see that fig tree over yonder?... Them other trees all around . . . that oak and walnut, they’re a lot bigger and they take up more room and give so much shade...