For Anne Moody, what were some of the most difficult obstacles to black progress, both within and outside the African-American community, in Jim Crow South? What level of success have you and others had in addressing these obstacles? What was your perspective on your own past and future, and on your country's past and future, at the end of the book? The dictionary defines racism as “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and abilities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.” Racism is one of the worst things to ever happen in the history of America. What began as a feeling among whites that they were superior to African Americans turned into one of the worst circumstances the United States has ever faced and is still dealing with today. Even 100 years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, many whites still treated blacks poorly. It took several years before blacks were afforded the same rights afforded to white Americans. In Anne Moody's autobiography, Coming of Age in Mississippi, she talks about growing up in Mississippi. He writes about his memories of the transition between childhood, high school, college, and finally his courageous work in the civil rights movement during the 1960s. Growing up in the Jim Crow South predisposed Anne Moody to the obstacles she would face every single day. day. Each of these obstacles, however, prepared her to make a major impact in the civil rights movement. Growing up she had to face many different adversities, such as being beaten, having her house burned down, and changing schools. Anne Moody must face the fundamental challenges of growing up... in the middle of paper... and in mock elections. What they should have focused on was helping African Americans purchase their own land. “We had “dreamers” instead of leaders to guide us.” (307) What effect did Anne Moody have as a civil rights activist and would it be enough to bring about change? The things Anne Moody went through helped her become a strong, independent woman. She developed strong feelings about racism and realized that if she didn't take a stand for the rights of African Americans in Mississippi, no one would. Moody shows why the civil rights movement was such a necessity and the intensity of the injustices it had to correct, showing how black Americans gained equal rights through the tireless efforts of young people, like Anne Moody. Without the efforts of these young people, the role of black Americans in society today may have been different.