The Value of Family in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Essay Example

Set in 1933-1934 rural Mississippi, Mildred D. Taylor’s realistic fiction novel Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is a tale of the Logans, a loving and virtuous African American family. The Logans face great adversity, not the least of which is racially motivated. They live in a hostile, segregated environment. Corruption, greed, violence, and inequality are omnipresent, but the Logans strive to lead honorable lives. The adults -- Big Ma, Mr. and Mrs. Logan, and Uncle Hammer -- teach the children the value of dignity, self-respect, and hard-work. The novel’s narrator and protagonist is nine-year old Cassie Logan. As Cassie ages throughout the book she realizes that giving up gets you nowhere. She also comes to realize that without family you will struggle a lot in your life. Some of Mildred Taylor's themes throughout the book include, never giving up, doing what you gotta do, and the importance of family.

Throughout Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Cassie and her family (the Logans) go through some tough times. Some of these hardships include their struggle to pay bills, the children not able to see Papa as often due to his work, and even Mama losing her job. Throughout the novel Cassie learns that some people are more fortunate than her yet she doesn't give up. Instead she and the Logans begin to fight back but not in the way you are thinking. Rather than physically fighting the Wallaces, she and the Logans begin to boycott the Walace store with other families as well. They did this because the Wallace brothers killed a black man but went unpunished by the law. Throughout the novel Cassie experiences numerous racist and selfish people and events. Instead of it bringing her down she learns that she can use that to bring her up.

The significance of family throughout Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is essential to Cassie. Cassie learns many life lessons because of Mama and Papa Logan’s experiences and their commitment to raising her well. For instance, Mama and Papa teach Cassie and her siblings the difference between self respect and survival. Survival, for instance, is knowing the significance of calling white people “Sir” or “Ma'am” and the potential consequences for not. Survival does not always mean surrendering your self respect. Papa and Mama Logan taught their children the importance of self respect. Self respect means to have confidence and take pride in yourself and how you treat others. This lesson shows that having caring  parents that stand by their children, teach them right from wrong and the difference between self respect and survival is as important as any other aspect in the children’s life.