Anne Moody's activism style in "Coming of Age in Mississippi" reflects both that of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Henry David Thoreau.

Essay by PurpleChicUniversity, Bachelor'sA+, December 2003

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Martin Luther King, Jr. and Henry David Thoreau both advocated for the use of civil disobedience in response to governmental or social wrongs. While they articulate different versions of this response, both hoped for change and reform in what they felt were unjust laws and practices. Anne Moody in her book entitled "Coming of Age in Mississippi" reflects both styles of civil disobedience; however, it is more closely related to that of Martin Luther King, Jr. This may be due to the fact that Moody was able to actually able to work with King. Her many protests allowed her to work with many famous black empowerment leaders, including King and Jackie Robinson.

In "Coming of Age in Mississippi" while at Natchez College, Moody started a boycott of the school cafeteria when maggots were found in the grits. This is similar to Martin Luther King, Jr.'s style of activism because it was both anti-violent and collective.

Her approach to vocalizing her beliefs and proving her point was to make them suffer through refusal of patronage. This strike was a prelude to the sit-in Anne was involved with later during the Civil Rights Movement. This sit-in included other CORE and NAACP members where they could not be served at a white lunch counter. They refused to get up unless they were served. Whites came in calling them names, using racial slurs, throwing food on the blacks and dragging them from the counter beating them. This event was very similar to those King organized in his anti-violent campaign.

While being involved in the Civil Right Movement Anne received letters from her mom saying that it was "unwise" to be doing was she was. She was afraid that Anne was endangering her whole family. This is similar to King's claim in "Letter from...