Role of Thunder Hear My Cry - Character list

Who attends fourth grade at a black school in the South, and narrates the story in first person.

• Cassie

• Stacey

• papa

• little john

Cassie’s older brother. He attends seventh grade, which puts him in the same class his mother teaches.

• Uncle Hammer

• Stacey

• Cassie

• TJ Avery

Who is a schoolteacher who believes that the status quo of racism shouldn’t be accepted, so she teaches her students radical material about slavery—material that isn’t included in the textbooks.

• papa

• Big Ma

• Carlie

• Mama

Who is usually away from home, working on the railroad to support his family and their land so that they can maintain their freedom on their farm.

• Papa

• Little Man

• Stacey

• Cassie

Papa brings him home to protect the family and house while he is away.

• Little John

• Stacey

• Uncle Hammer

• LT Morrison

Who is Papa’s sibling, works in Chicago and earns a very decent living with their job, is able to afford a luxury car and dresses well, and also has a short temper.

• Mr. Jamison

• Harlan Granger

• Uncle Hammer

• Lillian Jean

Who is Stacey's friend, though none of the other Logan children like him very much, family share crops on Granger land, and causes trouble throughout the book

• little John

• mama

• papa

• T.J. Avery

There are three brothers: Kaleb, Thurston, and Dewberry. They are violent, racist white people who own a local general store.

• The Wallaces

• The Logans

• The Averys

• The Grangers

Who is the father of the Simms children, and he’s described as “a mean-looking man.” He pushes Cassie off the sidewalk because she accidentally bumps into his white daughter.

• Charlie Simms

• Avery Simms

• John Simms

• Papa

Who is a white boy who likes the Logan children and often walks with them to school, even though he’s beaten at home for associating with them.

• Lillian Jean

• Little John

• Stacey

• Jeremy Simms