Mr. Morrison In Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry

In the novel Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred d. Taylor, Mr. Morrison, a strong and brave man, holds the position of farmhand and overall protector of the Logan family. The Logan household hesitantly welcomed Mr. Morrison into their home after Papa brought him back from the railroad. The Logan children express amazement at Mr. Morrison’s size and height: “The man was a human tree in height…[and] the trunk of his massive body bulged with muscles.” (Taylor 34) Understandably, the kids may be intimidated by Mr. Morrison’s monstrous appearance. Although he had not yet demonstrated his kind-hearted and protective nature, Mama and the Logan children are quick to judge him and are immediately frightened by his appearance. Mr. Morrison jumps

into action to protect the children and show loyalty to the family when confronted by an adversarial white man with a fancy car named Kaleb Wallace:“He positioned his large hands beneath the bumper…[and took] one fluid motion until the front was several inches off the ground, and slowly walked it to the edge of the road.” (Taylor 225) Prior to his time with the Logans, Mr. Morrison’s incredible bravery finds root in the actions of his own mother who died protecting him from the night men. Mr. Morrison manages to to complete this daring task despite the Wallace’s hatred for African Americans. Overall, Mr. Morrison proves to be a loyal protector, and a worthy new addition to the Logan family.