Alexa Patton- Coming of Age in Mississippi

For my book I chose Coming of Age in Mississippi. I picked this book because it seemed the most interesting out of the choices. It appealed to me because I have had many conversations with my grandma about the south during this period of time. She was a nursing student during the early 1960’s and was bothered by the prejudice encountered by black students who were her friends. Coming of Age in Mississippi is the story Anne Moody’s life from the age of four through her mid-twenties. She describes what family life was like for a black girl growing up poor in Mississippi in the 1940’s through 60’s. The beginning of the book talks about Essie Mae’s (Anne) childhood after her parents divorced and her Mom’s struggle to support  her children. The first prejudice that she faces is within her own race when her mom dates a light skinned black man. Because her family was poor she began working as a maid at the age of 9 to help support her brothers and sisters. She became aware of the violence happening to black people at the age of 14 when a boy her age was killed for whistling at a white woman. She didn't realize how bad things were until this happened because she was always working or studying since she was a very smart.  Her mom always told her to just be quiet and to do her work and don’t ask questions, but Essie Mae did not have that type of personality. I’m still reading the book but as she has gotten into her late teens and twenties she has become an activist for the rights of blacks. I’m looking forward to finishing this book because she was involved in many important events such as the Woolworth’s sit-in and the March on Washington.