"I will continue the Logan's story with the same life guides that have always been mine, for it is my hope that these books, one of the first chronicles to mirror a black child's hopes and fears from childhood innocence to awareness to bitterness and disillusionment, will one day be instrumental in teaching children of all colors the tremendous influence that Cassie's generation--my father's generation--had in bringing about the great Civil Rights Movement of the fifties and sixties. Without understanding that generation and what it and the generations before it endured, children of today and of the future cannot understand or cherish the precious rights or equality which they now possess, both in the North and in the South." Mildred Taylor, 1977

Author Background:

Mildred D. Taylor was born in Jackson, Mississippi September 13, 1943, but he grew up in Toledo, Ohio where her father believed his children would be afforded opportunities they would never have in the racially segregated South. Taylor's unique understanding of the South comes not from a lifetime lived there but from family stories and frequent visits. Many of the stories told in her novels were recounted to her by family members, especially her father. After graduating from high school, Taylor attended the University of Toledo then went on to join the Peace Corps and travel to Ethiopia where she taught English and history for two years. Upon her return to the United States, Taylor enrolled in the University of Colorado where she earned an M.A. in journalism. Ms. Taylor has won numerous awards for your young adult fiction including the prestigious Newberry Medal of Honor for Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry in 1977, and the New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year for Song of the Trees in 1975.

Historical Background:

Racism and all its harshest realities will make up the most significant background of this novel. Those of us born in the last 30 years may have little to bring to the understanding of the world in which the Logan family lives--unfortunately, we too will have our stories. Our students will have to learn, if they have not already, about "separate but equal," a government policy which once allowed legal separation of the races in almost every way. It sent black children to different schools from whites, saw them drink out of different water fountains, use different bathrooms, and sit in the balconies of theaters instead of in the seats below with the "white folks." Separate but equal was only the legal face of segregation; there was an uglier side that had nothing to do with legalities.

My father graduated from high school in 1966, the first year black students went to school with white students in Livingston, Texas. It was obvious that even the photographer of his high school yearbook was facing an unfamiliar situation. The few black students who continued school were faceless in the yearbook because of the photographer's underexposure of their ebony skins. A few shiny teeth are all to be revealed of those faces. Dad says that most of the black kids dropped out of school rather than face the white school.

Why was separate but equal so bad then, if it allowed the black kids to finish school in peace? It was bad because it offered people a legal way to discriminate against blacks. Under separate but equal, black children, like the Logans, were forced into substandard schools with used up equipment while white students got the newest and the best that was available. The Supreme Court of the United States said that 'separate was inherently unequal,' or that by separating people into groups, there was no way that things were going to turn out fair. They were right.

A revered black woman at my school district told me a very interesting story about her experiences. She had been raised in a privileged environment; her parents were not rich, but were well educated. Everyone understood that she would go to college. In her application, she revealed her race, not thinking anything more about it. The University grudgingly accepted her, she exceeded their qualifications, but told her she would but told her she would have to find separate housing. She would not be allowed to live in the dormitories mandatory for the white girls. Even today, 30 years hence, the woman was embarrassed of the story and said she rarely recounted it.

We must remember too that these stories and rulings took place 30 years after the Logan family's saga. Things were even very different then from 1966. Slavery had officially ended with the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, but it wasn't until many years later that rebellious slave owners in the south freed their slaves. Still Cassie's world is 1933, long after the last slaves were freed. However, to whites who believed that blacks weren't human and were less than whites in every way, no laws made by the state mattered. Blacks were still treated as second class citizens by some whites in both little and big ways. Grown men were called "boy," for example, and people were burned and hung at the whites' whims.

This is not to say that all whites considered all blacks lesser or that all white families were slave owners atone time in history. My family was very poor, in fact they were sharecroppers like so many of the families in Roll of Thunder. That meant that they were much less well off than the Logans.

Remember when you read Roll of Thunder that the world you're reading about was once your own. Whether you live in the north or south, east or west, prejudice was and is practiced in your area. Examine your own family's journey through the Civil Rights era. Ask your grandparents and parents what they remember about relations between the races.

Timeline:

• Civil War: the war fought between the northern (Union) and southern (Confederate) states. Lasted from 1861-1865. The south wanted to be independent from the north. While the Civil War was not fought totally on the issue of slavery, the states were divided on that issue. The South was forced to surrender to the North after hundreds of brutal battles that nearly leveled the south.
• Emancipation Proclamation: Announcement made by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 that all slaves in the Confederacy were free.
• 13th Amendment Abolishes Slavery: 1865 "Section 1. Abolition of slavery. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States or any place subject to their jurisdiction."
• 15th Amendment Allows Blacks to Vote: 1870 "Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude."
• Plessy vs. Ferguson Decision creates Separate but Equal: 1896 The Supreme Court ruled that if railroad cars blacks were forced to use were equal to those exclusively for whites, then blacks were not being discriminated against. People used this ruling by the Supreme Court to say that any institution could be separated based on race, such as schools and other public facilities.
• NAACP founded: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was founded in 1910. The Association fights for equal rights, like integrated schooling.
• 19th Amendment Gives Women the Right to Vote: 1920 "Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."
• Stock Market Crashes: 1929 On October 24, a panic broke out where people rapidly sold off their stocks at the New York Stock Exchange. The panic came about because stock prices were higher than the value of the goods they represented. The millions of dollars lost in the stock market led to the Great Depression where Americans as a whole were poorer than they have ever been since.
• Supreme Court Rules School Segregation Illegal: 1954 - School segregation illegal "To separate [black children] from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone.... In the field of public education the doctrine of "separate but equal" has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal."(From the Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Topeka Board of Education written by Chief Justice Earl Warren).
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Assassinated: 1968 - Martin Luther King, Jr., the world's most famous Civil Rights Activist, assassinated "I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American Dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal...'" (From Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered August 28, 1963 during the civil rights march on Washington, D.C.).

Setting: Mississippi:

Magnolia State People: Population (1995): 2,697,243; rank: 31; Pop. density: (1990) 55.7 per sq mi. Racial/ethnic distrib. (1990): 63.5% white; 35.6% black; 0.6% Hispanic. Geography: Total area: 48,434 sq mi; rank: 32. Land area: 46,914 sq mi. Acres forested land: 17,000,000. Location: East South Central state bordered on the W by the Mississippi R. and on the S by the Gulf of Mexico. Climate: semi-tropical, with abundant rainfall, long growing season, and extreme temperatures unusual. Topography: low, fertile delta between the Yazoo and Mississippi rivers; loess bluffs stretching around delta border; sandy gulf coastal terraces followed by piney woods and prairie; rugged, high sandy hills in extreme NE followed by Black Prairie Belt, Pontotoc Ridge, and flatwoods into the north central highlands. Capital: Jackson.

Economy: Principal industries: manufacturing, government, wholesale and retail trade. Principal manufactured goods: apparel, food & kindred products, furniture, lumber and wood products, electrical machinery, transportation equipment. Chief crops: cotton, rice, soybeans. Livestock (1995): 1.3 mil cattle; 245,000 hogs/pigs; 644 mil broilers. Timber/lumber (1995): pine, oak, hardwoods; 2.7 bil bd. ft. Nonfuel minerals (est. 1995): $125 mil; mostly crushed stone, construction sand & gravel. Commercial fishing (1995): $42 mil. Chief ports: Pascagoula, Vicksburg, Gulfport, Natchez, Greenville.

Public education: Student-teacher ratio (1994): 17.5. Avg. teachers' salary (1995-96): $27,689.

State data: Motto: Virtute et Armis (By valor and arms). Flower: Magnolia. Bird: Mockingbird. Tree:Magnolia. Song: Go, Mississippi! Entered union Dec. 10, 1817; rank, 20th. State fair at Jackson in the fall.

History: Early inhabitants of the region were Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Natchez peoples. Hernando de Soto explored the area, 1540, and sighted the Mississippi River, 1541. Robert La Salle traced the river from Illinois to its mouth and claimed the entire valley for France, 1682. The first settlement was the French Ft. Maurepas, near Ocean Springs, 1699. The area was ceded to Britain, 1763; American settlers followed. During the American Revolution, Spain seized part of the area and refused to leave even after the U.S. acquired title at the end of the conflict; Spain finally moved out, 1798. The Territory of Mississippi was formed, 1798. Mississippi seceded, 1861. Union forcescaptured Corinth and Vicksburg and destroyed Jackson and much of Meridian. Mississippi was readmitted to the Union in 1870. Tourist attractions. Vicksburg Natl. Military Park and Cemetery, other Civil War sites; Hattiesburg; Natchez Trace; Indian mounds; Antebellum homes; pilgrimages in Natchez and some 25 other cities; Smith Robertson Museum, Mynelle Gardens, both Jackson; Mardi Gras and Shrimp Festival, both in Biloxi.

Famous Mississippians: Dana Andrews, Jimmy Buffett, Hodding Carter III, Bo Diddley, William Faulkner, Shelby Foote, Morgan Freeman, John Grisham, Fannie Lou Hamer, Jim Henson, Robert Johnson, James Earl Jones, B. B. King, L. Q. C. Lamar, Gerald McRaney, Willie Morris, Walter Payton, Elvis Presley, Leontyne Price, Charlie Pride, Margaret Walker, Eudora Welty, Tennessee Williams, Oprah Winfrey, Johnny Winter, Richard Wright, Tammy Wynette.

Assignments:

Chapter 1

1. Who inspired Mildred Taylor to write this book? What does she say about that person?

2. Name the Logan Children from oldest to youngest.

3. Describe Little Man.

4. Tell what you know about the "burnings."

5. Why do the Logan children have to run from the bus?

6. Why do other kids tease Jeremy?

7. Do the Logan kids and Jeremy's family go to different schools? Why?

8. Describe the books the Logan children are issued.

9. What is Miss Crocker's response to Little Man's refusal of the "new" book.

10. What did Mama Logan do about the books and Little Man and Cassie's behavior? Do you think her actions will have consequences?

11. Describe Cassie's attitude about school. Is it similar to or different from your own attitude about school?

Chapters 2 & 3

1. Compare Mama and Big Ma's physical characteristics.

2. Describe Mr. L.T. Morrison.

3. Why does Mama ask Papa, "You got my letter?" and say ". . . [W]e're glad to have you here (Mr. Morrison) . . . especially now."

4. What events supposedly happened which led to the burning of the Berrys?

5. Why do you think Papa tells his children to stay away from the Wallaces' store?

6. What do the Logan children use for rain coats? Why don't they use store bought rain coats?

7. Why does the Jefferson Davis schoolbus driver like to run the Logan children off the road?

8. After the major bus incident, why don't the Logan and Avery children speak to Jeremy? Are their actions right?

9. Describe how the Logan children get revenge on the bus, its passengers, and its driver.

10. What kind of a mother is Mama?

11. Why do you think Mr. Avery comes to the Logan house in the evening? What does he mean by saying "they's ridin' t'night"? 12. Why do the Logan children think the night men are coming after them?

13. What is Mr. Morrison's real job at the Logan place?

14. Describe how Cassie feels when she gets caught outside in the night.

15. What does Big Ma retrieve from under the bed where she and Cassie sleep?

Chapter 4

1. At the beginning of chapter 4, what is wrong with Cassie?

2. Why doesn't Cassie tell Mama or Big Ma about the bus incident or the night men?

3. How does T.J. say he gets out of doing work. Have you ever used his method?

4. What does T.J. say have been the latest actions of the night men?

5. What provoked the night men this time?

6. Why does T.J. "go back to get his cap" when the other children leave?

7. What do the Logan children think of Mr. Morrison? Does Stacey feel the same as his brothers and sister? Why?

8. Explain how the Logan children ended up at the Wallace store.

9. Why won't Mr. Morrison tell Mama about the children being at the Wallace store?

10. Describe how the Logan's got their land and the problems they have faced in keeping it.

11. Who were Mitchell and Kevin? What happened to them?

12. Why does Mama take her children to Smellings Creek to see Mr. Berry?

13. How do the children feel about seeing Mr. Berry? Have you ever seen anyone who made you feel uncomfortable?

14. What happened to Mr. Berry and his nephews?

15. What consequences might come from Mama trying to convince her neighbors not to shop at the Wallace store?

Chapter 5

1. Why does Big Ma allow Cassie to go to Strawberry?

2. Describe Cassie's first impression of Strawberry.

3. Why doesn't Big Ma move her wagon to the front so that more people can see what she has?

4. Why do you think Big Ma is so nervous in Strawberry?

5. Who is Mr. Jamison?

6. Describe the conflict that occurs in Barnett's General Store.

7. What does Mr. Barnett mean when he says, ". . . [M]ake sure she don't come back till yo' mammy teach her what she is."

8. Describe what happens between Lillian Jean Simms and Cassie.

9. Why does Big Ma make Cassie apologize to "Miz Lillian Jean"?

10. What might have happened if Big Ma had not made Cassie apologize?

11. What does Stacey mean when he says, "Don't worry 'bout T.J. He knows exactly how to act"?

Chapter 6

1. In chapter 6, Stacey tells Cassie that Big Ma had to made Cassie apologize. Stacey tells her that ". . . maybe she had to do it." What does Stacey understand that Cassie does not?

2. Describe Uncle Hammer both in looks and personality.

3. Why is it so significant that Uncle Hammer has a care just like Mr. Granger's?

4. Big Ma does not want Cassie to tell what happened with the Simmses in Strawberry. Why not?

5. What injury did Uncle Hammer suffer in the "German War"? What is the "German War"?

6. According to Mama, why is "white" something?

7. Originally, why did preachers preach that "black people weren't really people. . . ."?

8. Describe Mama's shoes. What do they tell about the Logan's situation?

9. Why is the coat Uncle Hammer gives Stacey such a good present?

10. What is T.J.'s reaction to Stacey's new coat?

11. After the white people in the truck back off of Soldier's Bridge when the Logan's come along, what does Mama mean when she says ". . . one day we'll have to pay for it."

Chapter 7

1. What happens to Stacey's coat?

2. What is Hammer's reaction to the coat incident?

3. How does T.J. react to Stacey and Uncle Hammer giving him the coat?

4. Tell about when Uncle Hammer and Papa stole watermelons.

5. What is Mr. Morrison's life story?

6. What do the Logan children get for Christmas?

7. Why does Jeremy come to the Logan house on Christmas day?

8. Why does Papa say that Jeremy and Stacey can't be friends?:

9. Describe Mr. Jamison in detail.

10. Tell about what is happening with the Wallace store and the issue of credit.

11. Describe why Mr. Jamison says Harlan Granger has become the man he is. What is his story?

Review Questions Chapters 1 through 7

1. Tell all you know so far about the Night Men, their actions, and their motivations.

2. Describe the bus incident including the events leading up to it.

3. What kind of a person is T.J.? Use events from the story to prove your answer.

4. Mama says being white is "something." What does she mean by that?

5. In what ways is Mama right and wrong when she says that white is "something."

6. Discuss two times when Cassie does not understand why she is treated unfairly by people outside her

family.

Chapter 8

1. Why was Miz Lillian Jean not going to tell anyone about what happened between herself and Cassie?

2. Did T.J. pass the exams? How is this significant?

3. Why does Mama start history as the first hour of school? What is the topic?

4. Who visited Mama during her history class? Why did they visit?

5. Who told on Mama for what she did to the school books? Why?

6. What did Papa have to say about forgiving things? Does he agree with the Bible? Explain.

7. What exactly does Cassie do to Lillian Jean? How did it all start?

8. Name two things Lillian Jean was forced to apologize for.

9. Why was Cassie banished to the last row in front of the window? How did this turn out to be important?

10. Describe similarities you see between Cassie and her family members.

Chapter 9

1. What risks were people taking by shopping in Vicksburg? Why were they taking these risks?

2. What happened on the trip to Vicksburg with Papa, Mr. Morrison, and Stacey?

3. How and where was Papa hurt?

4. What season was it in chapter 9. List two things going on in nature and why they are important.

5. Who is T.J. hanging around with? Why?

6. What would the money Papa made on the railroad have paid for?

7. How many families will shop at Vicksburg instead of at the Wallace store?

8. List three reasons why T.J. is out of control.

Chapter 10

1. Why don't Mama nd Papa notify Hammer of their financial situation?

2. List three things the Logan family will do to try to get by until the cotton can be ginned.

3. Describe the scene that occurs involving Kaleb Wallace and Mr. Morrison.

4. Explain why Mama wants Mr. Morrison to go away.

5. Where does Jeremy say he'll live when he grows up? Why?

6. What does Papa mean when he says the "note's been called" on the Logan land?

7. Describe the revival.

8. Why does Papa insist that Mr. Morrison go with Hammer to Vicksburg and to the train?

9. How has T.J. changed?

10. What does T.J. mean when he says "It--it didn't even make no difference."

11. Why does Cassie finally feel sorry for T.J.?

Chapter 11

1. Explain the meaning of the following poem which begins chapter 11:

Roll of thunder

hear my cry

Over the water

bye and bye

Ole man comin'

down the line

Whip in hand to

beat me down

But I ain't

gonna let him

Turn me 'round.

2. Why does Mr. Morrison "watch and wait" on the Logan porch each night since Papa was injured?

3. What do you think Cassie means when she says Mr. Morrison "walks on cat feet"?

4. Why aren't Stacey and Cassie sympathetic to T.J.'s situation at first?

5. Recount the story T.J. tells about what happened with Melvin and R.W. in Strawberry.

6. Why does Cassie think T.J. is faking even after he tells his story?

7. What do the men do as soon as they arrive at the Avery home?

8. What does Mr. Jamison mean when he says, "Ya'll decide to hold court out here tonight?"

9. Why do the men call Papa a "boy"?

10. Why does Cassie hesitate to leave Stacey in the woods alone?

11. How does the weather in chapter 11 imitate the events of the story?

Chapter 12

1. Why are the lights on in the Logan house when Cassie, Little Man, and Christopher John arrive?

2. Initially, how does Papa plan to stop "them" from hurting or killing the Averys?

3. What is Mama's suggestion regarding stopping the events at the Averys?

4. How does the fire change the atmosphere of the evening?

5. Why does Jeremy, on leaving the house, "[spin] around wildly as if he were mad"?

6. Why is it interesting that when the fire is out, it is hard even to tell who is who?

7. Recount what happened after Cassie went to get Papa.

8. What happened to Mr. and Mrs. Barnett?

9. What does Mr. Jamison mean when he says ". . . Or somebody might just get to wondering about that fire .. . ."

10. Answer Stacey's question . . . "Papa . . . what's gonna happen to T.J. now?"

11. Why does Cassie say that even she cares what happens to T.J.?