Coming Of Age In Mississippi Essay -- Anne Moody

Coming of Age in Mississippi is an eye-opening testimony to the racism that exemplified what it was like to be an African American living in the south before and after the civil rights movements in the 50's and 60's. African Americans had been given voting and citizen rights, but did not and to a certain degree, still can not enjoy these rights. The southern economy that Anne Moody was born into in the 40's was one that was governed and ruled by a bunch of whites, many of which who very prejudice. This caused for a very hard up bringing for a young African American girl. Coming of Age in Mississippi broadened horizon of what it was like for African Americans to live during the 40's, 50', and 60's. There are many traces of slavery throughout this book. I think that one of the biggest examples is in the first pages of the book describing where she lives and what her parents do. She lived on a plantation with her parents in a two room wooden shack. Their house was on the top of the hill along with the Carter's plantation. The other blacks that worked there all lived at the bottom of the hill. Her parents were farmers for Mr. Cater, and grew corn and cotton. Another example of slavery is when Ann is beaten by her father for something that she did not even do. I think this is kind of like when slaves got beaten for things that they could not help; such as getting tired or not working fast enough. Another instance is when Anne goes to the movies with two of her white neighbors and she has to sit in a different place than them. This does not exactly show slavery but it says that white people are better. Religion was a major role in the life of Anne Moody. It kind of just helped her get away for a little bit. I ... ... that at this point she realized how weak the men really were. Coming of Age in Mississippi was a very eye-opening and detailed biography that detailed the harsh life of a young African American girl in the south. I really enjoyed reading this book because it opened my eyes to what it was like to be an African American in the south on top of being a woman. I also think that this book is very important to many of today's and "yesterday's" African Americans because it basically outlines all of the harsh struggles that the African American people had to go through to get to where they are today. I also think that this book could be used as a guiding tool, not to just blacks but whites too, to people who are lost and feel as if they serve no purpose in the world. As one can tell from reading this book, even the smallest or meaningless person can make a difference.