Anne Moodys book Coming of age in Mississippi Free Essay Example, 1500 words

Jim Crow Segregation in Mississippi The term Jim Crow is associated with a song and a dance done in blackface by Thomas Rice. The song is called â€Å"Jump Jim Crow† which is aimed at satirizing the populist policies of Andrew Jackson. Due to Rise’s fame, the phrase Jim Crow meant ‘the Negro’ in 1838 and subsequent naming of segregation laws that were later passed as Jim Crow laws. These segregation laws primarily operated in the southern states and the bordering states, and were very rigid on black Americans. The African-Americans were reduced to second class citizens. The churches claimed the whites were the chosen people and the blacks were cursed to be servants for white people. This implied that God supported segregation. The newspapers referred to blacks as Niggers, darkies, coons and even the articles and games played by children were stereotypic. Violence was used to maintain the blacks at the bottom of the hierarchy. The segregation rules came to ultimate end in 1965 when every individual was allowed full rights. This included voting but after a long tussle and struggle by the rights activists which included the civil war between the federation and the southern states (Kay 210). Essie’s family lived in a shack with two rooms. We will write a custom essay sample on Anne Moodys book Coming of age in Mississippi or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now The shack was not enough for them and the conditions were dilapidating. The parents tried to make it comfortable by decorating it using mismatched wall papers with cardboard pieces stacked in the numberless cracks on the walls. The state of the house was a clear example of the real conditions that the blacks in the southern states like Mississippi lived. The kids stayed alone at home because the parents stayed in the fields working for their white master all day. However, the wages were not even enough to fend the small families. This situation is aggravated by burning of the shack by Ed who was left to look after Essie and her siblings. Thereafter, Mae is blamed for the tragedy and thoroughly beaten (Moody 167). Mae’s father used his free time gambling although it was very difficult. This made him see another mulatto woman thus, a second marriage. Therefore, Mae was left alone to fend for the family. Later, the family decided to move to a house near a swamp. The place had several snakes which occasionally sneaked into the house. Mae’s mother was now working at a cafà © for the blacks. She discovered that the place was not safe however; they could not find another cheap place to stay. They were living in such places as a result of poverty.