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
CORE opens up an office in the city of Canton, Mississippi, which is far more dangerous than Jackson. Anne, tired of the infighting in Jackson, volunteers to go. Arriving in Canton, Anne is impressed by the high Black population in the city. She and Dave Dennis, her fellow CORE worker, arrive in Canton and meet the community leaders C.O. Chinn and Mrs. Chinn. She asks Mrs. Chinn how it is possible that the Black population owns 40% of land in Canton, meanwhile the white population holds all the power. Mrs. Chinn explains that the government’s uneven system of distributing crops caused the independent Black farmers to be “practically like sharecroppers.” The CORE movement in Canton is made up of mostly teenagers.
Anne’s desire to leave Jackson for Canton demonstrates her commitment to solving concrete issues. Her conversation with Mrs. Chinn sheds light on the racist economic systems that have kept Black people out of power, even when they technically own land. Anne’s understanding of this system is a turning point in her activism and appeals to her goal of solving concrete issues for the Black community. Meanwhile, the fact that the CORE movement in Canton is mostly made up of teenagers highlights the role that young people played in the civil rights movement.
Themes
Anne and her fellow CORE workers move into the Freedom House. At a CORE rally, which is attended by 20 teenagers and Mrs. Chinn, Anne gives a rousing speech. Though she is well-received, she worries about the lack of adults involved in the CORE movement. She hopes to organize some of the Black community’s collective energy, but the community members are indifferent about voting.
The presence of teenagers at the rally shows the importance of young people for the civil rights movement. However, the lack of support from adults in the community shows the generational divide regarding ideas about liberation, possibly as a result of the trauma that the adults have experienced over the course of their lives. Anne’s position as a speaker at the rally demonstrates her penchant for leadership.
Themes
When a white service station owner shoots five Black teenagers days after the rally, many parents try to keep their children from attending CORE rallies. Anne is rattled by a visit from FBI agents. Soon after this, an unknown attacker takes a shot at a pregnant Black woman in a racist attack. This causes participation in the Movement to nearly stop altogether, and CORE support and funds run out. At an NAACP rally, Anne begs for help. Her pleas are answered by her fellow activists in the Movement, and the CORE office receives food and more volunteers. CORE attempts to get more Black people registered to vote, but the group’s efforts are mostly in vain: the courthouse disqualifies many of the potential voters on small technicalities. For example, the courthouse disqualifies some aspiring Black voters for not using a title (such as Mr. or Mrs.) and disqualifies others for using a title.
The shooting of five Black teenagers and a pregnant Black woman highlights the fact that Canton is an especially dangerous place for its Black residents. The violence has its intended result: Black people stop working with CORE out of fear for their safety. The fact that more Black voters decide to register as a result of the increased support to the CORE offices highlights the importance of solidarity in social movements. However, the fact that the courthouse (a government operation) blatantly prevents Black voters from registering demonstrates that the Canton officials are directly invested in disenfranchising their Black population.
Themes
One night, when a CORE volunteer’s brother overhears a threat to kill all the CORE workers, the volunteers hide all night in the woods. Their potential attackers don’t find them, and they narrowly avoid violence. After that incident, men volunteer to follow around the CORE workers as bodyguards.
This incident highlights the very real and constant danger that the CORE volunteers face in trying to fight for justice. The men who volunteer to bodyguard them show the importance of solidarity in performing activism safely.
Themes
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When C.O. Chinn, the most powerful Black man in town, gets involved in the Movement, Anne is ecstatic. However, he soon loses his business, and the white people in town constantly follow and harass him. Rather than let this discourage him, however, he only becomes more deeply invested in the Movement.
Anne’s excitement at C.O. Chinn’s involvement shows the impact that community leaders can have in advancing social justice movements. His resilience despite losing his economic and social power provides an inspiring model of fighting for what is right.
Themes
Anne is disappointed in the ministers of Canton: not one has committed himself to their cause. Though most of the ministers are “Toms,” after dedicating time to involving many important clergy members, CORE’s connection to the church deepens. Having gained this support, the Movement spirit picks up again. The teenagers come back, and Anne is optimistic about the future.
Anne’s disappointment in the ministers deepens her skepticism of religion in society. The newfound connection to clergy members and the return of the teenagers demonstrates the importance of community and young people in fighting for social justice.
Themes
