Character Insight Project “Cassie”

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Katie CunninghamEDSC 304: Student

Sample

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Cassie’s Background Narrator and protagonist 9 years old; second-oldest sibling in

the family; the only daughter Stubborn, brave Has a fiery temper Has a strong sense of justice—wants

to be treated fairly by everyone A little naïve—doesn’t understand

why White people mistreat Black people

Cassie is faced with many situations where she must

deal with unfairness, oppression, and

adversity…

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Situation #1The “new” texbooks

Cassie is excited to learn from her teacher, Miss Crocker, that they will finally have textbooks

Cassie sees that the “new” textbooks are actually rejects from the White school—they are old, torn, beat-up looking

Cassie’s brother, Little Man, refuses the books

In solidarity, and out of principle, Cassie refuses the books as well

Cassie and Little Man are whipped for their decision, but they hold strong to their beliefs

Situation #1: What would I have done? (putting myself in the scene)

I would not have been as brave as Cassie!

I watched as my younger brother, Little Man, bravely gave his book back to Miss Crocker. His voice quivered a bit, but he stood tall. I wanted to help him, to shout “I don’t want my book either!” but I couldn’t do it. I felt like I was glued to my seat.

When Miss Crocker said she would have to whip Little Man, tears filled my eyes. He was so brave, and I felt so foolish. Why couldn’t I help him? Why couldn’t I say something? I was ashamed that I didn’t stand by my brother. Some day I hope he is as proud of me as I am of him.

Situation #2: The General Store in Strawberry

Big Ma takes Cassie, along with Stacey and T.J., to the town of Strawberry

They go to the general store to do some shopping for the family

The clerk says he’ll help Cassie, but ends up helping all the White customers first

Cassie complains to the clerk, who yells at her and embarrasses her by ordering her out of the store

Situation #2: What would I have done?

I would have been too humiliated to say anything!

As soon as the store clerk started yelling for me to leave, I felt my face burn with embarrassment. I must have turned beet red. This man was being completely unfair, and I hadn’t done anything wrong! But I couldn’t speak. I knew everyone in the store staring at me, and suddenly I felt so small.

On the way home, I thought of all the things I could have said, but didn’t. I wanted to go back and give him a piece of my mind! Why had my mind gone blank in the moment?

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Situation from MY life: the baseball game

Last summer, I tried to play baseball with my four cousins (all boys)

They told me I couldn’t play because it was a “boys’ game” and that I couldn’t keep up

I knew it was unfair, and that I was good enough to play, but I was embarrassed and didn’t say anything

What would Cassie have done? Cassie would have spoken up! Cassie never compromised what she

believed in—she spoke her mind even when it got her into trouble

Cassie would have argued that she was just as good as anyone else, and would have joined the baseball game anyway

Cassie would have been confused about why she was being mistreated—and would not have just walked away!

Things may have changed a lot since 1933…

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but Cassie’s bravery is timeless!

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ReferencesSparkNotes. "SparkNotes: Roll of Thunder, Hear My

Cry." SparkNotes: Today's Most Popular Study Guides. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 June 2010. <http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/rollofthunder/>.

Taylor, Mildred D. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Puffin Modern Classics) (Puffin Modern Classics). New York City: Puffin, 2004.