Anne Moody’s novel, Coming of Age in Mississippi, is an insightful look into the struggles faced not only by a young black woman growing up in the South in the 1950s and 1960s, but the difficulties faced by young activists in this time period as well. An aspect of this book which was very thought-provoking and eye-opening was Moody’s interactions with citizens of the south, both white and black, both racist and accepting. From her employers to friends, her interactions with these people varied from tolerance and helpfulness to complete disdain. Throughout this novel, readers watch Anne learn the large roles played by race, and how she tries to alter this role.
Throughout her childhood, Anne had several interactions with white children. These children included Katie and Bill, children of a white couple who lived near Anne and her family. When playing together, this group of children do not realize that they are of different races and are therefore segregated by society. This can be seen when the children meet up at the movie theatre. Not realizing that they must be separated into different areas of the theatre, Anne and her siblings follow their white friends into the white lobby. She writes, “We were standing in the white lobby with our friends, when Mama came in and saw us. ‘C’mon! C’mon!’ she yelled, pushing Adline’s face on into the door” (33). This occurrence and the friendship between the children shows readers that the racism displayed by many in the south during this time period was not necessarily an automatic reaction by all to differing races, it was something that was taught and learned, depending on the beliefs of the family.
One of Anne’s first in depth interactions with white people is with one of her employers, the Claibornes. This family is very encouraging to Anne and treats her with respect and equality, as they invite her to eat dinner with them and talk, as though she is a friend, which at first, causes her to be nervous as it is a totally...