Racism in Coming of Age in Mississippi
Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody In her book Coming of Age in Mississippi, Anne Moody writes about her different experiences while growing up in the South as an African-American female during the 1950s and 1960s. Her various stories range from living on a plantation as a child, to working for Caucasian families as a teenager, and to fighting segregation laws publicly as an adult. As Anne grows from a naive child to a progressive adult, she gradually develops into a local leader for African-Americans and an activist in the Civil Rights Movement. Segregation in America at this time greatly affected the relationships between African-Americans and Caucasians. Most of the opinions and mindsets of the Caucasians who were perpetrating African-Americans resulted from the tradition of their ancestors who also looked down upon the opposite race. Throughout her memoir, Anne Moody narrates the seemingly hopeless battle concerning racial equality by sharing her personal journey to the end of segregation. Racism in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s lived through the concept of Segregation. Merriam-Webster defines segregation as “the separation or isolation of a race, class, or ethnic group by enforced or voluntary residence in a restricted area.” Jim Crow Laws implemented public segregation in America, and these laws affected places like schools, restaurants, restrooms, and the workforce. Jim Crow laws were state and local laws that mandated racial segregation in the South, making African-Americans “separate but equal.” African-Americans were not allowed to attend high school with Caucasians during this time, but Anne tutored a group of white kids, which caused great tension in the community. She then attended the African-American exclusive Natchez Junior College and played on the basketball team before moving onto Tougaloo College on an academic scholarship. At Tougaloo, Anne encountered her first experience with Caucasian teachers. Segregation