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The novel Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor is a work of historical fiction about an African American family living in rural Mississippi in 1933, at the height of the Great Depression. In this story, the Logan family experiences racism and injustice as they pursue their dream of owning and farming their own land.
At a time when memories of slavery lingered in the South, owning land represented independence for African Americans. Following the Civil War and Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution were enacted. These laws gave former slaves the rights of full citizenship: they could vote, participate in the political process, own land, seek their own employment, and use public accommodations. However, new laws and social practices designed to suppress these rights were soon put in place. Legalized racial segregation and discrimination continued in the South until after the Civil Rights Movement began in the 1950's.
To fully understand the historical context for Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, you will need to develop some knowledge about the social, political, and economic conditions which affected African Americans in the South during the 1930's. You and your classmates will gather facts about these conditions through research in order to prepare for reading the novel and answering the essential question:
How authentic is Mildred D. Taylor's depiction of African American life in the South during the 1930's in the historical novel Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry? |
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Comments (13)
Jebreel F said
at 12:39 am on Feb 4, 2012
it authentic because the kids was alone really but big ma told them what to do
Jebreel F said
at 12:44 am on Feb 4, 2012
the ciivl war and recinstructure, thee cicil rights act of 1866 and the 13 th ,16 th ,15th amendment to political process ,own land seek there iwn employment also continue in the aouth unyill after the civil right movement began in 1950 s
Brendan J said
at 12:05 pm on Feb 7, 2012
His depiction of american life in the south was terrible because of all the poverty and abusing going on in the 1930s. The blacks were extremely poor and couldn't learn as well as others. Blacks couldn't drink from the white fountain. (Fountains only whites could drink from). I think if they did, they would have been beaten or arrested.
Adrianna H said
at 12:07 pm on Feb 7, 2012
VERY authentic
Zoe M said
at 12:10 pm on Feb 7, 2012
YES I AGREE
Brendan J said
at 12:19 pm on Feb 7, 2012
Because whites were richer back then.
Brendan J said
at 12:19 pm on Feb 7, 2012
And blacks were poor and unintelligent.
Brendan J said
at 12:20 pm on Feb 7, 2012
and couldnt speak english correctly...
Brendan J said
at 12:21 pm on Feb 7, 2012
They were often homeless with little food to eat... scavenging out of rich peoples' trash cans
Brendan J said
at 12:26 pm on Feb 7, 2012
I also think Mildred Taylor's depiction of life was authentic because blacks were being treated like disobediant pets... they got raped, hurt and killed for the simplest of things.
Ahlonkoba B said
at 1:04 pm on Feb 7, 2012
yes it does be couse in the story it talks adout how black people live
Wendell C said
at 12:46 pm on Feb 8, 2012
Reply
yes it does be couse in the story it talks adout how black people live
Justus S said
at 7:21 pm on Feb 14, 2012
It is very truthful because all the stuff in the book is related to what really happend in the real world back in the 1930's.
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