In Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, written by Mildred D. Taylor, Papa set his field in flames so he could try stopping the public hanging of an African American child, T.J. Although papa burnt a quarter of his cotton, was he right for taking that risk in order to save T.J.? If not for the fire, T.J. would have been hung without a doubt. Adding to that, it brought everyone from town together. So yes, papa was true to start the fire. Without the fire, T.J. would have been hung. In Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Mr. Jamison told Mr. Granger that “nobody else was ‘bout to stop a hanging,” but he was wrong. Mr. Granger then came running off his porch hollering, “There’s smoke coming from my forest yonder!” and everybody started running for items to
