Mama also gives Cassie valuable advice after the incident in Strawberry. She carefully explains to Cassie why things are the way they are, and why Big Ma had little option in Strawberry but to behave the way she did. Mama gives Cassie a detailed description of her history, going back to slavery and the civil war. She is trying to make Cassie understand why blacks are sometimes seen as inferior to whites and why racism occurs. She finishes with, “we have no choice of what colour we’re born or whether we’re rich or poor”, and goes on to say, “what we do have is some choice over what we make of our lives once we’re here.” This explanation by Mama guides Cassie into understanding the world that she lives in. Mama’s guiding role is clearly displayed because we see Cassie mature rapidly from this point as she begins to understand the cruel ways of the world around her.
Both parents actively promote education to their children. Many black people valued education and saw it as a way out of the permanent struggle to survive, at the time when racial tension was running high. Mama is always seen to be supervising homework and is not happy when the children don’t concentrate, “I’d better do something about it or you’ll never get any work done”, she says when the children aren’t paying attention.
Papa also promotes education when he buys the children books for Christmas. He was told when he bought them that they were, “right hard”, reading for children but Papa’s reaction was, “They can’t read ‘em now, they’ll grow into ‘em”, therefore encouraging his children to learn to read the books.
Throughout the novel we see both Mama and Papa Logan caring and supporting each other in times of need. One of these times is when Mama loses her job at Great Faith school. This is down to the work of Harlan Granger, a ploy to reduce the Logan family’s income. Papa knows Mama is vulnerable and explains to the children the size of the sacrifice that their mother has had to make for her belief in justice. He reassures Mama when she explains what has happened, “we’ll get by…Plant more cotton maybe”, he says, “but we’ll get by.” Cassie notices the, “quiet reassurance”, in his voice, again adding to the strong sense of family atmosphere in the Logan household. Mama and Papa’s care and love for each other is rubbed off onto the children as we see them continuously respecting, caring and supporting one another.
Extended family also plays important guiding roles to the children. Big Ma especially, adds to the stability of the environment, giving the children a deep sense of family history in detailed descriptions of her past. This is particularly shown in the long conversation about the land between Cassie and Big Ma. Big Ma explains the history of the much-loved land to Cassie, keeping the memories alive. This traditional story telling is important to the family and it always helps the children to learn and understand their history, and the reason why the land means so much to their family.
Although Mr Morrison is not a family member, he soon gets treated and valued as one of the family, again adding to the stable environment. He acts as the family’s guardian, also guiding the children, especially Stacey into the correct behaviour. This is shown after the fight at the Wallace store between Stacey and T.J. Mr Morrison intervenes and earns Stacey’s respect by saying that he will, “leave it”, up to Stacey to tell his mother what happened. Mr Morrison gives Stacey responsibility for himself and as a result Stacey noticeably matures.
The Logan children love and respect their parents. This response shows just how much Mama and Papa are valued and how their guidance and love has an important effect upon their children. Cassie displays this love for her mother when helping her to dress for church. She says that she, “loved to help Mama dress”, and goes on to say affectionately that, “she always smelled of sunshine and soap.”
This love is again shown every time Papa returns from working on the railroad. The children are always pleased and very excited to see him, “all of us sped down the road toward Papa”, Cassie says.
Throughout the novel the children respect their parents and do what they tell them. When told to go to bed by Mama, the children sometimes protest but they always obey her orders in the end, “groaning loudly enough to voice our displeasure, but not loudly enough to arouse her anger”, Cassie says, “we stacked our books on the study table and headed for the boys room.”
The children often seek approval from their parents, for instance when Cassie wants to explain to her mother about the incident over the books. This approval that the children want from Mama and Papa shows the respect and value that the family share with each other, and that the children see their parents as role models.
The children accept their parent’s right to punish them when appropriate, again displaying the respect and understanding towards Mama and Papa. They show no resentment after their punishment for going to the Wallace store by their father and know next time not to disobey their parents.
Very often in the novel we see the children care for, and stand up for each other. This comes as a result of following their parent’s actions of love towards one another. Cassie stands up for her younger brother, Little Man when he refuses to accept the books at school. She is showing family loyalty here, an important quality shared by all of the Logan family. Cassie is also standing up for principle, much like her mother. When their teacher, Miss Crocker attempts to whip Little Man for his refusal, Cassie immediately tries to stop it, “Miz Crocker, don’t, please!” she cries, “I know why he done it!”
Stacey also stands up for Little Man when he deliberately gets splashed and humiliated by the Jefferson Davis school bus. Angered at Little Man’s treatment he organises revenge to wreck the bus and prevent it from bothering the children again. He tells Little Man that, “It ain’t gonna happen no more, least not for a long while. I promise you that.” This sharp sense of responsibility for the children on Stacey’s behalf shows how much his younger brothers and sister mean to him.
The Logan children only know their own family who are very close and valued by one another. They therefore cannot understand why other families are different. Cassie and Stacey are bemused by Jeremy’s detachment from his family, “But they’re his kin. A fellows gotta like his own kin”, Stacey says. This comment shows how well the Logan children have been brought up, being taught to respect and love each other. The importance of family in the Logan household is made clear at this point.
The other black families in the novel are usually seen in relation to the Logan’s. The Avery’s are poorer than the Logan’s, and unable to discipline T.J. However, the strength of feelings in the family is made clear. This is shown particularly at the end of the story when T.J receives a violent beating by the lynch mob, and his family attempt to protect him from them. In desperation Mrs Avery shouts, “Don’t let ‘em hurt my baby no more!” She goes on to say, “Kill me Lord, but not my child!”. There must be strong feelings if Mrs Avery is prepared to sacrifice her own life for her son’s.
Mr Turner is also a poor black sharecropper, like the Avery’s. Despite raising his children as a single parent he provides a supportive family environment. He prevents his children from going to the Wallace Store, and encourages his son Moe, in his education as he walks several miles each day to and from school.
There is very little information on white families in the novel, and if there is, it is usually negative. The Simms’ are one of the very racist white families in the story and the Simms children, all except Jeremy, learn their racist behaviour from their aggressive father, Charlie Simms. His racist behaviour is shown particularly in the Strawberry incident, when he supports his daughter and violently knocks Cassie off the sidewalk. “When my gal Lillian Jean says for you to get yo’self off the sidewalk”, he shots, “you get, you hear?”. This bigotry seems to lead directly to violence and crime as shown through his sons involving T.J. in the violent Barnett robbery. Lillian Jean is an example of how unthinking racial prejudice and intolerance can be passed on by parents to their children.
The Wallace’s are, as a family also racist and violent. They are involved in the tragic Berry burning and the brutal attack on Papa, Stacey and Mr Morrison.
Harlan Granger’s families aren’t seen in the novel, but the influence of his grandmother is made clear. Mr Jamison says that, “Harlan’s always lived in the past”, and goes on to say that, “his grandmother filled him with all kinds of tales about the glory of the south before the war.” This explains why Harlan Granger has such cold southern values; he learned it from his grandmother. This is yet another example of the powerful influence parents and elders have on their children from one generation to the next.
Mr Jamison and his wife are a rare positive image of a white family, discussing and agreeing on all important issues that affect them. They, as a family represent a hope for a more tolerant society in the future. Mr Jamison shares the same respect for his family that the Logan family shares. He tells Papa that he and his wife talked about backing the loan in Vicksburg and, “discussed it fully”, with each other.