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Coming Of Age In Mississippi Thesis

Decent Essays

The book Coming of Age In Mississippi tells a poignant story of Anne Moody’s life experience while growing up in rural Mississippi. Although Anne grew up poor, she had grit and determination. Anne’s father Fred “Diddly” and mother Toosweet were together up until their third child was conceived. From Fred, Anne’s mother had Anne (Essie Mae), Adline, and Junior. After Fred and Toosweet broke up Anne’s mother had four more children from Raymond, her second husband. From Raymond, James, Virginia (Jennie Ann), Raymond Jr., and Ralph were born. Anne grew close to a few people like her Uncle Ed and Mrs. Ola, during her childhood. As a young child, Anne grew up not knowing the difference people made between blacks and whites. She had unknowingly live …show more content…

In this autobiography Anne Moody gives detailed information of how she grew up poor in Centreville, Mississippi, a racist town. Starting from age four throughout her childhood, to high school, on to college and graduation, Anne give us a picture of the good, the bad, and the ugly she had to endure. Anne’s story of family and friendships, poverty, and racism is depicted in an in-depth account of her life.
Although Anne had lots of family around, there always seemed to be emotional distance between them. Anne’s father left the family while Anne was young. It was implied, Anne’s mother never seemed to express much love and affection to Anne. Her step-father showed a difference between his own children and those from Fred. The difference grew into contempt between Raymond and Anne. Anne seemed to have a closer relationship with people outside of her family. Mr. and Mrs. Claiborne took time with Anne. Anne would asked them question and they would give her an answer. Anne experienced her first bath in a real tub with Miss. Ola. Linda Jean gave her a job and paid her more than any other maids made. She experienced her first kiss with Keemp in her second year at Natchez College. These brief relationships help Anne to come into her own and form the poor little girl into the women she would …show more content…

They lived in a shack with one room and a kitchen. Their daily diet consisted of dried beans and biscuits because they couldn’t afford meat. When Anne started school her mother could not afford to buy clothes so Anne wore the same outfits 2-3 times a week. As Anne grew up she wanted to help relieve some of the family’s financial burdens so she got small jobs to help out. Soon Anne was making as much as her mother. One summer Raymond bought land, a mule and plow and planted cotton. Anne, Adline, Raymond, and Darlene, and Alberta all worked the land. In the end the cotton didn’t yield much profit. Anne also struggled to pay dues and fee, and even eat while in college. Anne realized as a child that whites always seemed to have more of an advantage than the

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