Paper Four Rough Draft

With Coming of Age in Mississippi, Anne Moody argues against racism in favor of inclusion in America by utilizing the theme of “bodies” in tandem with the tactful technique of narration.

Moody does much cultural work with her memoir using the tool of narration together with theme of “bodies.” Moody writes the memoir as an adult, yet when she recounts her childhood, she does so while retaining the innocent perspective of a child. Moody struggled with racism in American society that seemed to pervade all around her. She saw no difference between Black people and White people. However, society would have her believe that there were fundamental differences. Thus, she sought to discover what they could possibly be. Moody recounts a theory of hers by saying, “I got a crazy idea. I thought the secret was their “privates.” I had seen everything they had but their privates and it wasn’t any different than mine. So I made up a game called “The Doctor,” (Moody, 39). After thoroughly inspecting the nude bodies of her White and Black friends, Moody comes to the conclusion that there is no physical difference. Moody tactfully uses the idea of narration to convey her message. On the visceral level, Moody wishes for readers to be convinced that the bodies of Blacks and Whites are considerably similar. More significantly, however, Moody makes the case that because physically Blacks and Whites are the same, human, they should have equal rights. With this passage, Moody undoubtedly argues against racism in favor of inclusion. Moody describes a childhood experience to illustrate her current support of the Civil Rights Movement. Readers should feel more agreeable to the progression of the Movement after reading Moody’s story.

Using narration and the theme of “bodies” Moody challenges the definitions of “Black” and “White.” Moody recounts a discussion she had with her mother. Moody had many questions, but her mom provided inadequate answers. Moody writes:

‘Mama,’ I said, ‘why ain’t Sam and Walter white?’ ‘’Cause they mama ain’t white,’ she answered. ‘But you say a long time ago they daddy is white.’ ‘That still don’t make them white!’ she snapped. Every time I tried to talk to Mama about white people she got mad. Now I was more confused than before. If it wasn’t the straight hair and the white skin that made you white, then what was it? (Moody, 40)

Sam and Walter are of mixed race: their mother is Black and their father is White. At Moody’s young age, she considers her two friends to be White. She thinks this because they not only “look” White because of their pale skin and straight hair, but one of their parents is White as well. However, people in Moody’s community and in American society consider the two boys to be Black. At the center of such a discussion is the idea and theme of “bodies,” because Moody is talking about people and their appearance. Moody is understandably confused at her young age, and she conveys these feelings through narration. The last two quoted sentences encapsulate Moody’s emotions as a child, even though she has grown up and come to understand society by the time she writes her memoir. She still poses an important, simple question at the end of the passage. The answer, however, is complicated. Race is a social construction; and there is no true scientific definition of what it means to be Black or White. Moody sends this message to the audience by explaining a scenario she encountered and posing such a question. By thinking about what it means to be “mixed race” and what constitutes Whiteness or Blackness, readers are forced to reexamine race and inclusion. Ere go, the author wishes for the readers to reject racism in favor of societal inclusion of all people regardless of color or hair because race is a social construction. After considering the above passage, readers’ attitudes toward the Civil Rights Movement should change toward being in support of it.