Why was Cassie forced to apologize to lillian jean?

Cassie was forced to apologize to Lillian Jean in "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry" as part of a humiliating lesson imposed by Lillian's father, Mr. Simms. After an encounter where Cassie stood up to Lillian and her father, Mr. Simms insisted that Cassie apologize to maintain the social order and reinforce the racial hierarchy of the time. This incident highlights the oppressive environment that African Americans faced in the segregated South, as well as the loss of dignity that Cassie experiences.