writer moody coming of age in mississippi

Moody’s intimate conversations with her grandmother, Winnie, and the glimpses they offered into her life were some of the best parts of the book. Moody’s siblings’ inability to grasp basic school work seemed like a foreboding of a continuation of limited life options. Mama’s lack of education left her unable to help her kids with their school work past grade school and limited her options for finding work. Mama worked hard but had to move the family around while trying to find work that would pay enough without being too exhausting. Moody’s parents’ breakup and her father’s undependable financial support left the family struggling. Prepare to be grossed out and giggle a bit about the stories of Miss Ola and the old milk lady. Her gossipy writing style when it came to small-town happenings was very enjoyable. I haven’t spent time in any rural areas in America but Moody’s descriptions made it easy to imagine in my mind’s eye. Her descriptions of the country and her childhood shenanigans reminded me of my mom’s stories of growing up in the Caribbean.

Having grown up in the city, I enjoyed reading about Moody’s experiences growing up in a small rural town. Watch the video, listen to the podcast episode or scroll down to continue reading. Moody’s parents’ dysfunctional relationship exposed her to heated and sometimes violent arguments. While her mother, Mama, struggles to maintain stable committed relationships with her husbands/lovers. Her father, Daddy, is a womanizer and gambler. The book begins with Anne Moody’s early life as the eldest child of sharecroppers on a large plantation.

Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody is the story of a young Black woman coming of age in rural Mississippi during the 40’s and 50’s.

Writer moody coming of age in mississippi