Violence In Anne Moody's Coming Of Age In Mississippi

In Anne Moody’s autobiography Coming of Age in Mississippi (1968) the reader follows Moody on a narrative quest that provides a historical glimpse into her childhood during the civil rights movement. Moody presents the reader with personal evidence of discrimination and racial violence which could leave the reader with despair. However, these events are followed by scarce but surprising realizations of kindness reminding Moody and the reader that there is still hope for humanity. After spending her most impressionable years in such a detrimental era, hope prevails motivating and determining Moody to become an activist in the civil rights movement.
During Moody’s most impressionable years Emmet Till a fourteen year old boy was murdered by
white men for whistling at a white women. Moody recalls a threatening conversation with her employer Mrs.Burke. She writes “ Many times she had tried to instill fear within me and subdue me and had given up. But when she talked about Emmett Till there was something in her voice that sent chills and fear all over me” (220). The fact that Emmet Till’s murderers were acquitted shows that African Americans had no protection from racial violence. Moody says “fear all over me” reminding the reader that racial threats quickly escalated into racial violence. Racial oppression was culminating with no repercussion and being condoned leaving Moody and the reader feeling despair.
With racial oppression culminating Moody and her reader have plenty of reasons to feel despair.
However, even after numerous depictions of racial violence Moody recalls explaining to Mrs. Burke that not all white children are like her son Wayne and his friend Judy. She writes “I was going to the post office the other day and a group of white girls tried to force me off the sidewalk. And I have seen Judy with one of them. But I know Judy ain’t like that. She wouldn’t push me or any other Negro off the street ” (236-237). Considering the racial threats Moody had received from Mrs.Burke and many other adults Moody and her reader have plenty of reasons to believe that her son Wayne and his friend Judy would treat her just as poorly. However, Moody says “Judy, ain’t like that” giving a clear description that she doesn't believe every white person is racist. Moody also writes “I began to wonder how it was that Wayne and his friends were so nice and their parents so nasty and distasteful” (236). The fact that the parents were “nasty” and “distasteful” to African Americans, but their children chose to act with kindness reveals hope prevailing. Moody says she began to “wonder” reminding the reader that even through all the violence and hatred she still has hope for the future. These children will grow up to make a difference and end racial oppression. When Moody ends her autobiography with “I WONDER, I really WONDER” (289). She is a powerful activist in the civil rights movement
wondering “when” not “if” change is coming. The youth offers a corroboration that through all the discrimination and racial oppression during the civil rights movement hope still prevails.