The reason why Miss Crocker reacts in this manner is because of the fact that she believes that nothing could be done no matter how hard she would fight against the white. Therefore she accepts it as it is, as well as for the fact that she could lose her job. Because if she were to complain to the board of education, she would only get fired and nothing would be done about her complaint, the reason for this is because the board of education is escorted by the white, and the black people would have no rights over them. Miss Crocker doesn’t understand why the children are being so angry, but the children believe they should do something about it, and something can be done if they complain or fight for their rights. Mildred D Taylor is showing that some of the black people don’t fight for their rights and just accept what they have.
Stacey however is the kind of person who doesn’t just accept racism; he actually does something about it. Stacey fights against racism for revenge. Stacey is fighting against the white who are bullying and abusing them, but he realises that nothing good will result from open violence, therefore he gets revenge in secret, so that he actually hurts the white people. Despite the fact that Stacey doesn’t like it; he is always “eager for revenge.” Stacey is conspiratorial when it comes to revenge. He thinks of “a plan so drastic it could exclude all lunch.” This is when Stacey meets up with his friends; to dig a hole in the road were the bus driver splashes mud at them, and then they fill it with water so that it wouldn’t be noticed. This kind of revenge shows that Stacey is mature and knows what he’s doing and plans what he does, as well as gets revenge. The reason why Stacey does all his plans in secret is because of the fact that he is aware of what could happen to him if he was found out. He knows that he could get attacked by the white people in several ways, such as being ‘tarred and feathered; bullied or beaten; or maybe even get burnt like the Berry’s.’
Cassie is at first the kind of person who doesn’t realise this. Instead she would be violent to the people who are racist to her. Even though she knows racism is wrong, she doesn’t yet realise how to deal with things. Ten years old, Cassie is the first-person narrator of the novel. She is the second oldest and only girl in her family. Cassie is intelligent, outspoken, and self-confident, even when those qualities threaten to get her in trouble for speaking her mind in a white-dominated world or simply with her teacher at school. She spends most of her time with her three brothers, who are her confidants and playmates, and worships her father.
Over the course of the novel, Cassie comes to experience racism directed at her and learns the real dangers of being black in the 1930s south. At the beginning of the novel, Cassie is outspoken, proud of herself and her race but unaware of the consequences of that outspokenness in her society. From various sources - her teacher, a prejudiced white girl and her cruel father, a prejudiced store owner - she experiences racism directly. She also is witness to the real violence and injustice of the South - becoming aware of lynching, of white power's curtailment of her father and mother's freedoms, and of the severe punishments meted out to blacks accused of wrongdoing, even when they are fourteen-year-old friends of hers, like TJ.
Cassie grows up over the course of the year, learning some sad truths and experiencing the strength and love of her family. It is times and places like when Cassie tries to be polite, when Mr Barnett is almost ignoring her, “just them,’ he said, indicating to us with a wave of his hand.” But Cassie just can’t bare this and loses her control, “whose little nigger is this!’ bellowed Mr Barnett.” This rises Cassie’s temper even more, so she replies furiously, “I aint nobody’s little nigger!’ I screamed angry and humiliated.” He responds angrily, telling her to get her "little black self" back to waiting and calling her a "little nigger." Cassie protests, until Stacey begins to drag her out of the store, and Mr. Barnett tells him to "make sure she don't come back till yo' mammy teach her what she is." Cassie's difficult path toward adulthood passes another milestone here when she must make the realization that life is not fair. In approaching Mr. Barnett, to remind them they have been waiting, Cassie expects that he will react as she does and perceive the unfairness of the situation. When he does not, Cassie is doubly outraged - both from the injustice of his racist reaction and from this upset of her generally positive worldview.
Outside, Stacey tells Cassie that even though she knows Mr. Barnett is wrong, Mr. Barnett doesn't. Cassie ambles around the sidewalk, thinking about Mr. Barnett's words to her, and bumps into Lillian Jean Simmons, who's with Jeremy and their two younger brothers. Lillian Jean demands an apology, which Cassie reluctantly gives, and then tells her she should walk in the street. Cassie is trying to keep from being pushed off the sidewalk by Lillian Jean when Mr. Simmons appears and twists Cassie's arm behind her back.
Mr. Simmons demands Cassie apologize to his daughter, even though Jeremy insists she already did. Cassie tries to run away and is met by Big Mama. Mr. Simmons demands Cassie say "I'm sorry, Miz Lillian Jean," and Big Mama reluctantly makes her comply. Cassie says it and runs crying into the wagon, thinking this is the cruellest day she has ever endured. Because of the fact that Cassie was forced to apologise upset Cassie very much, “No day in all my life had ever been as cruel as this one.”
So later on Cassie begins to manipulate Lillian Jean by treating her nicely, she would “carry her books,” always call her “Miz Lillian Jean,” and so on. After getting her manipulated, Cassie then begins her ensnare. “’Scuse me, Miz Lillian Jean, but I got a real nice surprise for you… found it just the other day down in the woods.’” So Lillian Jean with excitement follows Cassie down into a trail, and “enter a small dark clearing with hanging forest vines, totally hidden from the road.” And that was the surprise; Cassie angrily smashes Lillian Jeans’s books onto the floor. Lillian Jean was “more startled than angrily,” Lillian Jean then orders Cassie to pick up her books, but Cassie boldly replies “make me.”, this angers Lillian Jean “Her face paled, then, red with anger, she stopped daintily across the clearing and struck me hard across the face.”, and this leads to a fight. Cassie got her down and told her she would spread all her secrets if she were to tell anyone. This clearly shows how Cassie has become more mature and realises the ways to deal with racism. Cassie has realised that she can fight against her rights in secret, and by cleverly planned conduct she gains revenge.
On the other hand “T.J’s face was totally blank, as if nothing at all happened.” This is the kind of person T.J. is, he ignores racism. When the Mr Barnett ignores him and Cassie, it doesn’t matter that racism is going on and he was being ignored because he was black, he just ignored it. T.J. is also a person who can be easily manipulated and someone who likes to show-off. This happens when he goes to church and takes R.W. Melvin with him. His "friendship" with the older, white Simms brothers leads him to commit a crime and ultimately come close to being hanged by a mob. He is the catalyst for an eruption of racial tension and at the end will most likely be sent to a chain gang for a murder the Simms committed.
