Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

What are the benefits of owning land or being a homeowner? What advantages and responsibilities do people who own land have over people who do not own land?   

Teaching Suggestion: This question provides an opportunity to introduce the theme Land and Power. In exploring the connection between land and power, students should understand that, unlike renters, homeowners do not have to worry about increases in rent or the whims of landlords. It may be helpful to mention to students that, generally, real estate is considered a significant investment that grows in value over time and thus can build generational wealth. The characters in this novel are impoverished in many profound ways because they either do not own their land or have to fight constantly to hold on to it. Due to the potential sensitivity of this topic, a private, independent response may be best. These and similar resources may help in building additional context for this subject.

• “How Does Homeownership Contribute to Wealth Building?” is a research series by Habitat for Humanity that briefly explains the benefits of home ownership; the site includes links to a detailed brief that discusses this topic in a modern context.