“Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry” is a novel that has many friendships that are either genuine or not. The friendships in this book are surprising as particular friendships are ones that have a mix between white and black communities. This novel includes many various characters with different stereotypes and how each person is unique in many ways. This novel is set during the 20th century where the white people think the black are inferior to them and if a white person talks to a black person they are downgraded. Also this novel expresses how the relationships between the two races affect their lives and who is a true to friend.
Some of the friendships in this novel are counterfeit. The relationship between Lillian Jean and Cassie is a feigned friendship. It is false from Cassie’s side but is real from the point of view from Lillian Jean. Cassie only pretends to be Lillian Jean’s friend because she wants to take revenge back on her because she humiliated her in front of everyone in Strawberry. Cassie fakes this friendship by pretending to be a changed character in the eyes of Lillian Jean and does things such as agreeing with everything she says, doing things she wants her to do, carrying her books for her and listening to her worries and secrets about people. This makes Lillian Jean believe that she is a good child and she has truly changed. Lillian Jean is elated that at least someone is treating her with respect and that Cassie is realising her mistake about what she did. Cassie does not tell anyone about her friendship with Lillian Jean as she does want anyone to know about what she is doing and be stopped. Cassie takes Lillian Jean into the forest and starts abusing Lillian Jean and says that if Lillian Jean tells anyone she will tell everyone all the secrets she has told her. Lillian Jean is in deep shock about was has happened. It can also be inferred that