Rasicm
Racism is the most obvious theme in the book, as Coming of Age in Mississippi is considered to be one of the best books describing how it was growing up as a young, colored female in the mid-1950’s. Moody, the main character, narrator and author’s whole life spanned around the fact that she was black. She devoted her life to fix the unjustness she noticed in the society, though she knew that it would be hard to set right.
Segregation
Racism can be performed and expressed in many different ways, and segregation is the one that manifested itself strongest during the time Moody grew up. The black people and the whites were living in the same country, with (theoretically) the same rights, yet they were completely separated. This was something Moody knew she had to fight against and using white-only equipment’s and eating at white-only restaurants was one of her ways of fighting the system.
Fighting for what you believe in
Moody fought for justice, and she suffered for it, yet, the more she wants through, the more she knew she needed to fight. She didn’t know of the unfairness and inequality that spread itself like wildfire in the 1900’s, but as she felt liberated and free, and acted upon her feelings, she met a wall. Moody often explains how she never will manage to understand how people can sit still while unjust things goes on around them, encouraging the reader to stand up for themselves and others.
