Coming of Age in Mississippi Reading Due on 3/3

Discussion Questions: Anne Moody, Coming of Age in Mississippi

1. Describe Anne Moody’s economic circumstances as a child in Mississippi. When and why did she become a domestic servant?

2. Explain Anne's awakening to racial inequality. What are some of the incidents in childhood that spark her consciousness? How does she first challenge white supremacy and what is the reaction of her family?

3. How did the Emmit Till lynching affect Anne Moody?

4. How did Anne overcome the obstacles to get a college education? Where did she go to school? Did she graduate?

5. How would you describe the attitude toward sex in the college that Anne Moody attended? How does it differ from today’s attitude?

6. Anne frequently refers to African-Americans who were of the “high yellow caste.” To what is she referring?

7. Describe Anne Moody’s involvement in the Civil Rights Movement?

8. How does Anne judge the success of the Civil Rights Movement?

9. Anne Moody attended the August 28, 1963 March on Washington. "I sat on the grass and listened to the speakers, to discover we had 'dreamers' instead of leaders leading us...I sat there thinking that in Canton we never had time to sleep, much less dream." How does this contradict Americans' popular memory and celebration of the March and Martin Luther King, Jr's speech?

10. What does Anne Moody’s story tell us of life for African Americans during the Civil Rights era?