The Glory Field

Julian Smith 8/17/06

The Glory Field

In the novel, The Glory Field by Walter Dean Myer Tommy's chapter is crucial to the

telling of the Lewis family story. Tommy's story takes place at the time of the Civil Rights

Movement of the African- American citizens of the United States of America. At age 16, he is

being offered chance to go to State, a well known college in the area.

Mr. Chase, A scout who was at the Delaney High School basketball game, where

Tommy, the point guard scored the winning basket. After the game, Tommy was approached by

Mr. Chase and was invited to his house along with Mandy, Tommy's crush. At Mr. Chase's

house, he and Tommy discussed Tommy's attending State because of his good grades and his

obvious basketball skills. After their discussion, Tommy walked Mandy home and headed to his

his own house to tell his parents about the proposal. After telling his parents, his mother received

a call from Skeeter Jackson, saying that he was bitten by a snake and wants Mr. Lewis to take

him to the hospital. While in the car, they listened to the story about how Skeeter was bitten.

Reverend McKinnon then stops buy and discusses the protest with the Lewis's.

Tommy then goes to work, where he must fix the plumbing at the restaurant he works at.

The next morning, Jennie tells Tommy about the situation of the march on Calhoun street and

might cancel it because of Dr, King not coming, which was their main goal. Tommy then

then goes to watch the white demonstration in the park. He skips the black march and later is

confronted by Jenny, who he takes home on his bicycle. When he arrives home, he learns that

Skeeter was beaten buy some white citizens and could possibly lose vision in one of his eyes.

He also learns that the sheriff is holding a press conference with many black and white

leaders in the neighborhood, which Tommy himself attends and commits a stunning act by

chaining himself to the sheriff to reach his goal of gaining attention by the television casts.

He is temporarily thrown in jail after they separate the two and his chance of going to college is

cancelled. Later, Tommy Goes to fight in Vietnam, and is killed

During Tommy's chapter, a major event in the United States history was occurring,

The Civil Rights Movement. The Civil