Anne Moody, Coming of Age in Mississippi (Penguin Classics, 2004).
Why I Assigned This
I assigned this in Spring 2021 alongside Ida B. Wells The Light of Truth. It paired wonderfully as this memoir covers the 1940s-1970s, focusing on the modern Civil Rights Movement. It is a raw, gritty, and at times quite explicit look at the Civil Rights Movement. I particularly liked that it addressed the generational conflict within the movement and foreshadowed the rise of the more militant Civil Rights Movement of the late 1960s. I wanted my students to have a first-hand perspective into life in mid-20th century Mississippi, a state where so many atrocities occurred as part of the fight for Civil Rights. Mooney does an amazing job of showing how this trauma affected everyone and created fissures between older and younger generations.
How Students Responded
In many ways, this book had a profound impact. Moody’s writing is powerful, evocative, angry, and so incredibly tired. You cannot help but to be emotionally moved by her experience. This autobiography produced amazing discussions, even in an online format, as I assigned this nearly a year after George Floyd’s death, and discussions around Black Lives Matter were everywhere, even in a conservative military college.
The Assignment
I had students write an essay between 1,000 and 1,500 words, only using the book, based on the following questions:
-
What role do race, class, and gender play in this autobiography?
-
What can we learn about life in the South from the perspective of this author?
-
What is Moody’s relationship with the Civil Rights Movement? What can we learn about this era of U.S. History by reading this book, and how does this challenge the traditional accounts of the Civil Rights Movement?
-
What did you take away from your reading of this book? (This should appear in your conclusion, and it needs to be no more than a couple of sentences.)
The Verdict
I try really hard not to repeat readings to keep the classes fresh. However, I would make an exception here. This book has stayed with me even though it’s been five years since I read it.
The assignment asked students to consider too many questions. I should have focused on one or two instead. My students wrote excellent responses, and it was clear that they were captivated by the account. It is also worth noting that I have now abandoned this essay format, as it is too easy for AI to generate a compelling answer to each question.