American Literature

Look out there, Cassie girl. All that belongs to you. You aint never had to live on nobodys place but your own and long as I live and the family survives, youll never have to (Taylor, Mildred D., Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry 6).

I choose this passage because, through it, I can sense the strong determination of the Logans, particularly the father, revealing the pride and self confidence that the family carries.

The passage reveals that the author is giving importance to the family values. This fits the theme of the story strong family ties. Throughout the story, the Logans experience extremely unfair treatments from the whites. In the center of all this, the author infuses balance to the situation by establishing healthy relationship within the family that allows the Logans to survive and stay on course. It bonds them to act as one, to be united in overcoming any difficulties. Strong family attachment keeps them rational during turmoil, allowing themselves to endure in humility if only to avoid further trouble. Family value also permits them to know the meaning of sacrifice as Papa burns their cotton field to save TJ Avery from being killed by an angry mob of whites. TJ is not a Logan, but Papa values the friendship of Stacy and TJ, so he considers the Avery boy as a part of his family. Good relationship in the family protects the children from the harshness of racism. It does not attempt to conceal the reality from their young minds rather it keeps their self-respect and confidence intact.

The passage also typifies the setting of the story, which is during the Great Depression period.

As the black population is the most affected by the economic slump, it shows the importance of the land for their survival. Since the Logans own a parcel of land, they suffer constant harassment from Mr. Granger. However, Papa is determined to keep it no matter what the consequences may be. This he promises to Cassie.

We Logans dont have much to do with white folks. You know why Cause white folks mean trouble. (Ib 134)

I like this passage for its straightforwardness. It directly labels the whites as the bad people in the story. It does not even contain any trace of remorse or attempt to conceal the truth.

The author portrays the gloomy mood of the novel through, among others, the dialogues of her characters, and this passage is one of those. Uttered by Papa as he talks with Stacy regarding his sons friendship with a white boy, this statement exemplifies the discrimination being experienced by the blacks. They are struggling to survive the depression, but their struggle is made even more difficult by the rampant racism. The Logans and other African-American in the novel undergo discrimination in almost all fronts in the workplace, in stores, in public places and in schools. This is preceded by the burning of Mr. Berry and highlighted by the beating of TJ Avery. Taylor has successfully presented a dark picture of life during the depression.

The passage also reveals the characterization of the story. The white people are depicted as mean and brutal individuals who are continuously harassing their black neighbors, particularly the Logans. It seems that their sole role is to antagonize the blacks. There are whites who side with the colored people, like Jeremy Simms and Mr. Jamison, but they are greatly overwhelmed by the brutal light-skinned individuals. This kind of portrayal can be seen as the authors way of expressing her bitterness towards racial discrimination. Perhaps, as a black American herself, the author might have suffered injustice during her time, and the novel is her way of letting her anger out. On the other hand, the author puts a balance by portraying the Logans as confident black individuals who are no pushovers. From the oldest Logan down to the youngest, nobody in the family is afraid to confront a white person face to face. This is probably an attempt of the author to give the African-Americans strong characters.

I had never liked T.J., but he had always been there, a part of my life, just like the mud and the rain. Yet the mud and the rain and the dust would all pass. What had happened to T.J. in the night I did not understand, but I knew that it would not pass. And I cried for those things which had happened in the night and would not pass (Ib 163).

I choose this passage for its innocence, which is only appropriate for a nine year old narrator. Good thing that Taylor does not portray Cassie as a wise character who knows everything that transpires around her.
The passage proves that the story is seen in the point of view of a nine year old girl, Cassie. Taylor may have put a young girl as the narrator of the story to lighten the effect of the great depression and racial discrimination. The narration is comprised mainly on the perception of a young mind, and the factual information is provided by her old folks. Cassie is naive, and she has many questions regarding racism. He cannot understand why the whites get all the nice things, and the blacks are always the losers who are forced to settle for leftovers. This naivety gives realism to the story as the author does not allow the gloomy mood of the novel to deprive the young protagonist the natural characteristics appropriate for a child of her age.

Taylor is clever to fit Cassie with loving parents who provide answers to her questions.

The passage is also appropriate for the plot that shows series of events and conflicts that go without being solved. Cruelty of racism happens everywhere in the story, yet justice is nowhere to be found. The burning of Mr. Berry and other unsettled conflicts accumulated until they become almost impossible to deal with already. The climax of the story, the beating of TJ, is another event that finds no solution. Fittingly, the novel starts with Cassie wondering about the importance of the land, and it ends leaving the narrator confused and unable to do anything but feel sorry for all the victims of injustice that her tender mind cannot grasp.