Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

By Mildred D Taylor

An Unforgettable Logan family story

Here is another one of those #kid100 books. I seem to have a vague recollection of this book from when I was a kid. I think the upper GCSE class studdied it, but I was never in that class. What I never realised was that this particular novel is number four of 6 novels. I really connected to the story, its sense of history, its feel for the life of 'black folk' in rural American all those years ago, life was hard but there was, through that discomfort, need and tragedy a family that worked and laughed and lived together in a much more connected way. I think that this book connected with me of that familiar level, that need I have for deeper family connections.

Historical context

"This popular novel explores life in southern Mississippi, when racism was still common in The South and many were persecuted for the color of their skin. The 'Berry Burnings' mentioned in many chapters and Mr. Tatum who was tarred and feathered in the fourth chapter are prime examples of the racism that still existed, with people taking the law into their own hands at the expense of the black population." Wikipedia

Synopsis

"We have no choice of what colour we're born... what we do have is some choice over what we make of our lives once we're here."
Cassie can't understand whay she should have to get off the pavement and walk in the road when Miss Lillian comes along, nor why she should be served last at the grocery store when she has been the first in the queue. But Cassie is learning that life is unfair if you are black and living in Mississippi.
Cassie believes she can do something about all the injustice but, in fighting for her principles, she puts her whole family in danger...
This is a powerful story of one family's passionate determination not to be beaten.

Author 

“So many things are possible as long as you don't know they are impossible.”
― Mildred D. Taylor, The Land  

Mildred DeLois Taylor is an African-American writer known for her works exploring the struggle faced by African-American families in the Deep South. Taylor was born in Jackson, Mississippi, but lived there only a short amount of time, then moved to Toledo, Ohio, where she spent most of her childhood. She now lives in Colorado with her daughter.  - GoodReads

Other books by this author
The Land (Logans #1) (1974)
The Well: David's Story (Logans #2) (1995)
Song of the Trees (Logans #3) (1975)
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Logans, #4) (1976)
Mississippi Bridge (Logans #4.5) (1990)
Let the Circle Be Unbroken (Logans #5) (1981)
The Friendship (Logans #5.5) (1987)
The Road to Memphis (Logans #6) (1992)
The Gold Cadillac (Logan #7) (1987)