Anne Moody: Taking the Road Less TraveledComing of Age in Mississippi, an autobiography written by Anne Moody, is a novel based on the life of an African American in rural Mississippi and his involvement in the civil rights movement. Anne Moody's curiosity about inequality began at a young age, despite her mother's influence. Anne stated, “Every time [Anne] tried to talk to the white mom, she got mad” (Moody 35). Anne thought, “with a mother like that you will never learn anything” (Moody 134). Although her mother did not talk about whites or the hardships inflicted by them, Anne would learn more about whites from her interactions with her teacher, Mrs. Rice, and employer, Mrs. Claiborne. Anne Moody's strong character, her frustration with her peers' harmful attitudes of detachment from racism, and several destructive events throughout her life are some of the reasons why Moody became involved in the civil rights movement. Yet despite her involvement in the civil rights movement, Moody was critical of the leaders of the civil rights movement. Anne Moody's strong character drove her desire to be involved in the civil rights movement. Moody's curiosity and courage defined his strong character. The society she lived in constantly reinforced the fact that whites were better than blacks, but Anne didn't know why. Once, after getting in trouble for trying to sit with her white friends at the movies, Anne's mom scolded her. Anne explains that everything was different from then on: “Now suddenly they were white, and their whiteness made them better than me. Now I realized that not only were they better than me because they were white, but everything they owned and everything connected to them was… in the middle of the card… leading us” (Moody 335). As he listened the speakers, Anne thought, “I sat there thinking that in Canton we never had time to sleep, much less dream” (Moody 335 Anne Moody has been recorded in history as one of the strongest voices for the community black and a great champion of civil rights. However, despite her passion for equality, at one point Anne became so discouraged and lost hope in the civil rights movement that she abandoned the movement for a while to resume energy. Although Anne Moody would eventually recommit herself as a leader of the civil rights movement, she clearly had her doubts and reservations. Anne's last words at the end of the novel are: "I wonder, I really wonder." (Moody 424) I think this phrase reflects his exhaustion from endless hours of toil, as well as his moments of disillusionment and disappointment in the civil rights movement..