What Is The Significance Of The Title Of The Novel ‘Roll Of Thunder Hear My Cry’?

Mildred .D. Taylor wrote ‘Roll Of Thunder Hear My Cry’ in the 1970’s but she set the book in the 1930’s during the great depression in Mississippi. During this time segregation was the norm and violence towards non- white races was rife. This segregation was due to the American civil war between the north and south of the country.

The title of the book comes from the Negro spiritual song sung back in slavery times to keep the morale of the slaves high. We hear Mr Morrison singing this in chapter 11 when he is on watch for the nightmen and the Wallaces. The lyrics say “whip in hand to beat me down but I aint gonna let him turn me round” this links to the theme of racial prejudice in the slavery times. This shows that the man is not just going to roll over and give up, but instead fight for his freedom. The phrase “ beat me down” also suggests that maybe the white man is not only beating him physically but mentally as well, putting the black man in his ‘place’. Another more recent act of defiance is when mama refuses to teach the racist white syllabus because she thinks it is not completely truthful and decides to teach her own version. One day, Harlan Granger, Kaleb Wallace, and another member of the school board come to Mama's class. They find how she has altered the textbooks to hide the word "negri" and they find her teaching "inappropriate" things. She is fired. This act of defiance towards the racial system refers to the old slave song sung by Morrison as she is also not letting the white me “beat her down”. Taylor uses Mr Morrison and Mama as character constructs to show defiance and fight against the racial oppression

The title of the novel ‘Roll Of Thunder Hear My Cry’ also uses pathetic fallacy to foreshadow upcoming events. Weather, especially thunder, often plays a