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
As eighth grade graduation approaches, Mama sends off for Essie Mae’s birth certificate, which was lost in the house fire. When it comes back as “Annie Mae” by mistake, Essie Mae decides to officially change her name. At home, though, she remains Essie Mae. Meanwhile, as the class calculates their final averages, Essie (now Anne) and Darlene compete for the highest grade. However, both are surprised when another girl, Betty, beats them both.
Anne’s name change is a pivotal moment in her self-actualization that allows her to separate from her childhood self. However, the fact that she remains Essie Mae at home demonstrates a tension between one’s family self and one’s individual self. Meanwhile, Anne’s failure to get the highest grade in the class against a girl that she hadn’t even thought of as competition reminds her to look beyond her narrow view of the world.
Themes
Around this time, Mama convinces Raymond, who has become disillusioned with his dream of farming, to go look for a job in California. Anne reflects that it is harder for Black men to find jobs in Centreville than Black women, because women could always do housework or childcare. Though Raymond is initially optimistic, he soon returns to Centreville, having been unable to find a job in Los Angeles. The other family members, who were looking forward to moving to California, are disappointed.
In Raymond’s struggle to find work, the book begins to touch on the intersectional nature of social issues. While Black women and Black men were of the same race, their economic circumstances and social positions were very different when Anne was growing up. The lack of jobs available to Raymond in Los Angeles reiterates the difficulty for Black men in this era to find work—even when trying extremely hard—due to systemic racism.
Themes
With Raymond out of work, it seems to Anne that the family is “doomed to poverty.” Mama is pregnant again and becomes depressed and angry at her family’s ill fortune. The day before Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins move away, Mama has the baby and names him Ralph. Anne prays that the Jenkins family’s plans to move will fall through. They do move, but Mrs. Burke offers Annie Mae a job. Though she does not want to work for Mrs. Burke, who “would let her dog occupy a seat at her dining table before she would a Negro,” she knows that she has to take the job to help her family.
Though the circumstances of the family seemed optimistic when they first moved in with Raymond, the family has fallen on hard times once again. Anne’s decision to work for Mrs. Burke even though she is overtly racist demonstrates her determination to help support her family.
Themes
Though Anne strongly dislikes Mrs. Burke and is nervous about working for her, she finds that the rest of the members of her household are not as mean as she is. Anne takes a liking to Wayne, Mrs. Burke’s son, who is her age and, like Linda Jean, treats her as an equal. Anne considers working for Mrs. Burke, who is particular and controlling, a “challenge,” and she notes that Mrs. Burke is the first overtly racist and controlling white woman that she had run into.
The differences between the way Mrs. Burke and her children treat Anne demonstrates the different generational attitudes towards social issues. Generational divides recur throughout the memoir. Anne’s perception of working for Mrs. Burke as a “challenge” highlights her resilience.
Themes
Get the entire Coming of Age in Mississippi LitChart as a printable PDF.
