Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Coming of Age in Mississippi, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Intersection of Racism and Poverty
Loss of Innocence
The Importance of Community
Gender and Racism
Religion and Hypocrisy
Summary
Analysis
Now that Anne is back in Centreville, Mrs. Burke comes to the house and asks her to come work for her again. Anne tells her that she has plans and will come the next week. Mama tells Anne that she should have said yes, and Anne wonders what has changed in Mama while Anne was in Baton Rouge. Anne also notices a change in Raymond—he seems to hate her.
The argument with Mama over Mrs. Burke in combination with Raymond’s new attitude indicates a shift in the family dynamics. Anne’s refusal to defer to Mrs. Burke also indicates her own self-respect and shows her development as a young woman. It also represents a shift from the economic desperation of her childhood—because she has been able to make money independently in the world, she now has more power in her dynamic with Mrs. Burke. Raymond’s seeming hatred towards her reflects a gendered dynamic, as he finds it difficult to be in her presence.
Themes
As the school year picks up, Anne keeps herself busy with school, band, basketball, piano lessons, work, and Sunday school. Her new basketball coach, Mr. Hicks, is tough on the team, and Anne’s playing improves. She also earns straight As in her classes. When Mrs. Burke finds out that Anne is an excellent math student, she asks her to tutor her son Wayne in algebra.
Anne’s desire and ability to chase excellence is prominent in this section. The fact that she thrives when facing a challenge is an important character trait when considering her activist future. It also shows the impact that a positive authority figure such as Mr. Hicks can have on a young person’s life and the importance of feeling like a valued part of one’s community (such as the team and the church).
Themes
Anne begins tutoring Wayne and his friends in algebra. However, Mrs. Burke is upset when Anne gets closer with the group of kids, who are all white. Wayne responds to his mother’s disapproval by making more of an effort to be close to Anne. When Wayne’s friendship with Anne strains his relationship with his mother, the girls in the group stop showing up for algebra tutoring. However, when the boys all make Bs on their exams, the girls come back.
Though Mrs. Burke had asked her to tutor the children, she begins to disapprove as their dynamic slips out of her control and differs from the dynamics between Black and white young people that she is accustomed to. In a triumph for Anne, her undeniable excellence at tutoring overcomes the prejudices that influence the girls.
Themes
One day, Mrs. Burke asks Anne what she thinks about integration in schools. When Anne responds that she is not opposed to integration and that white and Black students can learn a lot from one another, Mrs. Burke is furious. Anne becomes paranoid that Mrs. Burke will hire somebody to kill her and does not go to work the next day. Ultimately, Mrs. Burke retaliates against Anne by framing Junior for stealing her purse. After this, Anne quits working for Mrs. Burke.
Mrs. Burke’s furious reaction to Anne’s opinion about integration in schools—as well as Anne’s real fear that Mrs. Burke will hire someone to kill her—highlights Mrs. Burke’s deep-seated racism. Instead of resorting to violence, Mrs. Burke weaponizes her power over Anne’s family by making a dangerous accusation about Junior. In turn, Anne’s refusal to work for her reiterates Anne’s determination and self-respect.
Themes
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Anne gets a new job working for Mrs. Hunt, a white woman, at her store. When she runs into Wayne outside the store and sees Mrs. Hunt watching them, she realizes that Mrs. Hunt hired her out of curiosity about her behavior, having heard from Mrs. Burke that she and Wayne are close. Anne can see that Wayne, whom she likes as more than a friend, is scared for her. Anne earns Mrs. Hunt’s respect with her intelligence and ambition of college. As the school year comes to a close, Anne reflects that it had been a good year. She writes to Ed and Bertha to see if she can stay with them again in Baton Rouge, but they have no room. She then writes to her Aunt Celia in New Orleans, who agrees to host her for the summer.
Anne’s realization that Mrs. Hunt hired her to observe her behavior, having heard about her close relationship with Wayne (abnormal for Centreville at the time), reinforces the prejudices that run rampant in Centreville. Wayne’s fear for Anne implies that the racism he hears around him is more extreme than Anne has previously experienced. What’s more, Anne’s crush on Wayne shows the extent to which her social and romantic relationships are limited by racism. Anne’s drive to leave town for the summer reflects her commitment to a better life and a reprieve from the racism of Centreville.
Themes
