Stockett's Jackson, Mississippi

African American individuals still faced inhumane discrimination and were often not looked at as people, let alone cared for or acknowledged. To anyone else, their opinions did not matter and their lives were not valued. The 1930?s was also a time in which America was being rebuilt after the detrimental effects of the Great Depression. Furthermore, there was a greater presence of African Americans in northern states, which brought about racial tension from powerful white figures who did not want African Americans in what they believed to be ?their cities?. The struggle to find jobs was present all over, and African Americans found it even more difficult to support themselves. The narrator faced all these obstacles throughout the course of this novel.

“I found that the negroes who had been declared free by the United States were not free, in fact that they were living under a code that made them worse than slaves; and I found that it was necessary, as commanding officer, to protect them, and I did” (pg. 55). Those are the words of Governor Adelbert Ames, a former general of the Union army, turned senator and later becoming the governor of Mississippi. Ames was advocate in ensuring that negroes receive the rights that they were promised. Nicholas Lemann uncovered some of the forgotten truths of racism in this novel, starting with displaying the importance that Ames played in the deep south during the post war and reconstruction period.

Mississippi in the 1960s was the poorest state in the nation, even whites struggled with money, it was also one of the most racist. Mississippi had the most voting restrictions even after the law was past that blacks could vote. Most people just lived with the conditions they faced on the daily but one young lady, Anne Moody, refused to let these injustices continue; she demanded change. In an unadorned, unflinching prose, the nonfiction story Coming of Age in Mississippi narrates her life from her early childhood through her involvement in the civil rights movement as a young woman and how the relationships in her life shaped she into the activist she was. From personal racism to unfair laws for the African American community Anne demanded equality for all! The New York Times Book Review describes the book as “A history of our time, seem from the bottom up, through the eyes of someone who decided for herself that things had to change…” This is annes story.

Elijah’s daughter, Luvenia, struggles to get a job and into college in Chicago while her brother Richard travels back to South Carolina. Abby’s grandson, Tommy works with civil rights and protests, and tries to get into college for basketball. The story ends with Malcolm, Richard’s grandson, getting his his cousin Shep, who is struggling with drugs, to the family reunion. In reading this story one could wonder how the transition from slavery to segregation in the United States really occurred. The timeline can be split into three distinct sections, Emancipation, forming segregation, and life post-Civil War, pre-civil rights.

The book Coming of Age in Mississippi goes into detail about a very prominent time in United States history. The book takes us back to a time where the issue of civil rights began to rise eventually reaching its peak marking this an unforgettable time in history for that generation and for generations to come. During this time the south in general was already a tough place to be in, but the in the Deep South things were even worse, which is where the story takes place. Not only was race a huge issue other things factored into these trying times such as huge levels of poverty, and various acts of violence. Although all of these factors played a crucial part to the make-up of the Civil Rights Movement, the one that stands out the most is prejudice with the other factors such as unfair gender roles and poverty falling suit behind.

America during the 1960s was filled with change and progress. Although many embraced the changes occuring, there were still others who despised the change and fought for it to be stopped. With the civil rights movement in full swing, Coming of Age in Mississippi focuses on one girl’s story and how the movement gave her the power to change not only her situation in the world, but her beliefs on how the world worked. Anne Moody uses her autobiography in order to emphasize the importance of creating a path through the chaos of the world. She attempts to prove the necessity of the movement by explaining how racism in the South harshly affected not only individuals but whole communities and exemplifies the people in the movement who were brave enough

In the Coming of Age in Mississippi is an eye-opening testimony to the racism that embodied what it was like in that day and age to be African American living down south before/after the civil rights movements of the 50s and 60s. African Americans had been given voting and citizen rights but to a certain extent and wasn’t able to enjoy them as they thought.

The discriminating social stratification in 1950’s developed a set of servile behavior on the blacks. They were thought to be inferior to whites, and were treated accordingly. Moreover, different parts of the country had various ranges of sensitivities while dealing with the blacks. For example, in Mississippi things were particularly tense after the Parker lynch case. No black man would dare look into any white man’s eyes in fear of the repercussions. On the bus, a man warned Griffin to watch himself closely until he caught onto Mississippi’s ways. In an extreme case like this, it was vital to learn about their roles and behave accordingly.

To show first hand to the whites the inequality’s and hardships that the blacks face, the entire first section is in a narrative and a descriptive format. The use of these types of essays lets the readers feel more involved in the story and feel things for themselves. Split into two sections within itself, this first paragraph juxtaposes two stories — one about a “young Negro boy” living in Harlem, and the other about a “young Negro girl” living in Birmingham. The parallelism in the sentence structures of introducing the children likens them even more — despite the differences between them — whether it be their far away location, or their differing, yet still awful, situations. Since this section is focused more towards his white audience, King goes into a description of what it was like living as an African American in those times— a situation the black audience knew all too well. His intense word choice of describing the boy’s house as “vermin-infested” provokes a very negative reaction due to the bad

The Jackson environment was featured by a rough social structure and certain rules of behavior. Rich, color, family background and reputation specified your social status and your relationship with others in the society. Although the racism had no legal foundation, it was hard for color people to move between classes or make their way into high social circles. If color people do Any act of rebellion could mean a lot of social problems and complete isolation in the community. This would cause very bad consequences especially in terms of employment or marriage considerations. We obviously touch this through the character of Celia and her relation with Hilly and the Junior, of which Hilly is the leader. Hilly considers Celia as “white trash” because she comes from a poor area of Mississippi called Sugarditch. She disregards Celia’s offers to help with arranging a Donations interest. Celia is a good and somewhat simple girl who just wants to be one of the Jackson women. We see that when at the benefit one of the Junior League member’s comments on Celia’s because she wears revealing cloths. She says “bosoms are for bedrooms and breastfeeding. Not for occasions with dignity. I want her to cover. Them. Up”. Hilly also thinks to herself that Celia does not have the “gentility” to join the Junior League which consists of respectable women in the community”. These instances expose how Celia was judged according to her look and background instead of her personality. The setting is important to make it easy for readers to understand the inequality that a lot of women faced during this 1960’s

Although always positive in tone, it deals with the realities of a campaign that is now viewed as pivotal to the success of the American Civil Rights Movement but that was anything but assured in its own time. That King acknowledges this reality while placing it in a constructive context all the while advancing his positive, forward-looking message is a testament to his vision and incredibly forgiving perseverance. It's these gritty yet honestly conveyed insights - in addition to the outstanding Letter from Birmingham Jail that is the heart and soul of the book - that make this such a worthwhile and satisfying read. It's hard to read about the discrimination and racism, but the story of the eventual triumph ultimately overshadows this, with the result that the overall story is an uplifting and inspiring one. One sees here in all of his moral and pragmatic glory a leader who is committed to effecting positive change and yet honest enough to share his own challenges and

Set in Alabama in the 1930s, the novel tells an astonishing tale of the destruction of innocence and the horrific consequences of a prejudiced society where Jim Crow laws were enforced, emphasising the principle of ‘equal but separate.’ Blacks and Whites had separate restaurant sections, toilets schools and churches. It was a time where ‘people moved slowly’ (Lee, p.5). Society’s attitudes and beliefs progressed as slowly as the hours passed in the novel, and it wasn’t until 1955 that an era of protest evolved.

In Stockett’s novel, Minny Jackson battles an internal conflict of choosing to participate in the book Skeeter writes and releasing her true personality and life, when it could put her life on the line. Minny ultimately resolves this conflict by deciding to help Skeeter through the care she has for her children's’ future lives; however, this choice also illustrates her true character as caring, even though she is known for being rude. Minny’s decision to speak the truth about being a maid through Skeeter’s book also reveals the universal theme of how you can still find happiness while embracing your fears and using courage by putting others before yourself, even if there may be consequences.

While Skeeter is an independent, ambitious woman who does not care what others think. She is not put off by a rejection letter Mrs Stein who says she has potential, this shows us Skeeter does not give up “i'm gonna be a serious writer” Skeeter won't give up on her goals and dreams, Skeeter does not dress like the other girls, her hair is messy and natural, her costume is a professional twin set. This shows us the contrast between Hilly and Skeeter from the use of costume and dialogue helps portray Skeeters views are different to Hilly’s, Skeeter wants the blacks to be treated better in society, but Hilly wants them to be segregated and not equal to the whites “ it's just plain dangerous, they carry different diseases than we do, that's why i've drafted the health home initiative.. It's been endorsed by The Whites citizens council” Skeeter does not share Hilly’s views on this which is why she does not put it in the newsletter. Skeeter starts to resent Hilly and they slowly lost their friendship.

To have a relationship with a person of an opposing race was atypical of the societal norms of the 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi. However, Aibileen and Miss Skeeter challenge this view by developing a relationship characterized by equality and kindness to create a social change.  Miss Skeeter, a recent college graduate, returns from college with a new perspective about race. With the help of the education Miss Skeeter received, she begins to dismiss society’s views. She realized quickly that her actions towards the help are much different from her peers who