Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry tells the story of the Logan family as they try to keep their land in a predominantly-white, rural town in Mississippi. Young Cassie Logan struggles with the way things are and the way things should be for black people in her community. Engage students with premade activities and lessons from Storyboard That!
Stacey fights with T.J. after T.J. cheated on a test and Stacey got in trouble for it. Mama found T.J.’s cheat sheet in Stacey’s possession and whipped Stacey.
Stacey feels responsible for Papa's broken leg because he wasn't strong enough to hold Jack when Papa was shot trying to fix the wheels. Papa's gunshot wound was not serious, but the broken leg stops Papa from being able to work.
Cassie is made to address a white child as if she were superior to her and to apologize for something that wasn't her fault. In the Mississippi society at the time, black people were viewed as inferior to white people.
The fire in the cotton field threatens the livelihood of the Logan family. In addition, if the fire were to spread beyond the Logan land, all of the surrounding land would be in danger too. The Logans and the other members of the community work hard to put out the fire.