One “golden key" or important detail that moves the plot forward and adds to the mood created by the story’s setting in Chapters 2 and 3 of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is when the school bus splashes mud on Cassie and the Little Man.
What was the incident?
The bus driver's deliberate act of targeting black children with mud highlights the blatant racism and disregard for their well-being. This incident sets the stage for further conflict and fuels Cassie's growing sense of injustice.
The incident forces Cassie to confront her own beliefs and values. She grapples with the tension between her desire for education and the racism she encounters within the school system. This detail is a golden key because it shapes the nature of many characters in the story.