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
During her second year at Natchez, Anne begins to be more interested in boys than she ever has been and wants to have a boyfriend. She starts dating Keemp, a fellow basketball player, and she bonds with the other girls over dating. Though she is initially not interested in kissing Keemp, one night, after his basketball game, they kiss for the first time. From that point on, Anne kisses Keemp in public more often than the other students kiss their partners. Her behavior soon normalizes public displays of affection, much to the chagrin of Mrs. Evans. When spring comes around, Anne loses interest in her relationship with Keemp. She also explains that she doesn’t want to focus only on a boyfriend, the way some of the other girls do. Ultimately, Anne and Keemp’s relationship fades, though the two remain friends.
Anne’s desire to have a boyfriend reflects that, as she grows up, she is changing. Furthermore, it reflects her hope for love and community. Anne’s decision to publicly kiss Keemp more than is typical demonstrates her drive to challenge social norms. In this way, Anne acts as a model for other students who want to challenge social norms, showing the impact that one person can have on changing their community and highlighting her commitment to revolution.
Themes
Anne worries about affording college the next year. As Natchez is a junior college, she will have to find a new place to attend senior college. Feeling pessimistic about her prospects, she plans to spend her meager savings on a nice steak dinner for herself. However, when she arrives at the dining hall for breakfast, the other students are angry. One of them had found maggots in their grits. Anne suggests boycotting the dining hall. Instead of buying herself a steak dinner, Anne spends her savings supporting the students while they boycott the dining hall. After a couple days, President Buck intervenes and implements health and safety protocols in the dining room, causing most of the students to end their boycott. However, Anne stands her ground and only eats the canned food her mother sends her.
Anne’s decision to forgo her steak dinner and share her savings in service of her cause and community reveals her deep commitment to justice. She is willing to stand up for what is right even when it does not benefit her directly. In leading the boycott, Anne shows that she is a natural community leader. The success of the protest is an encouraging model for her later involvement with the civil rights movement. The fact that she still refuses to eat in the dining hall when most but not all of her demands were met further demonstrates her commitment to a completely just society.
Themes
At the end of the school year, Anne finds out that she has the highest average in the class. President Buck helps her apply for a scholarship for Tougaloo College, the best senior college for Black students in the state. Despite her worries about her future, Anne receives a full scholarship.
Anne’s full scholarship to Tougaloo shows that her commitment to excellence and her education have paid off. This scholarship sets her on her journey as a civil rights activist and is an inspiring story of success despite growing up in unfair economic and social circumstances.
Themes
