Coming Of Age In Mississippi By Anne Moody

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Coming of Age in Mississippi Coming of Age in Mississippi, an autobiography written by Anne Moody, tells the perspective of growing up black in the rural south. The book follows the story of Essie Mae, a three-year-old living in a rotten shack on a plantation. Throughout the book, Essie goes from a naive child to a more informed adult, taking place in the Civil Rights movement. First, I will start off by analyzing the events in her early childhood and the event that shaped her as a person. Then, I will point out the one significant event that led her to become an activist in the movement. Finally, I will connect the events from her early childhood through her college years and how those affected her involvement during the Civil Rights movement. …show more content…

She would get a job away from her current home during the summer and then come back to finish her schooling. After graduating high school, Annie has decided to go to college instead of staying at home like everyone expects her to. She winds up getting a scholarship at Natchez College in Mississippi. This is the beginning of a long journey for her. Before working with SNCC and NAACP, the protests she puts on are small but still make a difference. For example, the protest caused by maggots in the grits at her school. The fiery attitude she obtained as a child is still present throughout her college …show more content…

Her life seems like it has been so long when in reality it has only been a short twenty-three years. The book ends with Annie on a bus with other, young protesters singing. "We shall overcome, We shall overcome, We shall overcome some day. I WONDER. I really WONDER." (Moody, 1968, p. 424). While Annie is still determined to close the racial gap, she ponders whether or not if blacks really will overcome racism. I believe the youth and enthusiasm of the other passengers represent the hope for the future, that one day they will overcome. Throughout the entire book, Annie overcame great adversity along her journey. As a child, finally seeing that there was a gap between black and white people after the movie theater incident is the most significant thing that happened to her during her adolescence. It gave her the trait of determination. From then on out she was determined to figure out why there was a gap and questioned to herself what she could do to close it, and that is something she spends her entire life working

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