Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Lesson Plan

What is the significance of Uncle Hammer’s owning the Silver Packard?

Because the only other car of this kind in the county belongs to Harlan Granger, Uncle Hammer is making several points by buying it. He is demonstrating that he, a black man who has gone North for work, is capable of earning enough outside of the economic system of the South to match Mr. Granger's ostentatious marker of wealth. Hammer is also fully aware of the synonymy that Mr. Granger shares with his car, and takes advantage of the fact that people will not know the difference between him and Mr. Granger until they look in the driver’s seat. The car represents a way in which Hammer can claim material...