#AnneMoody
Note: Kevin Cooper, publisher of The Natchez Democrat (Natchez, Miss.), has written a powerful op-ed piece on Anne Moody and the #AnneMoodyDay Celebration set for noon Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, in her hometown of Centreville, Miss. Cooper captures both the essence and pathos of what we're trying to do in honoring Anne Moody and keeping her legacy alive. He correctly notes that sadly her name is not as well known as it should be. But we at the Anne Moody History Project are hoping to change that with help from Moody's family, the community, the press, and elected officials.
When Cooper writes that "somehow it seems she deserves more than just a road sign," we totally agree. In fact, we have outlined some of the steps we're taking to honor her name and contributions as a noted author, citizen, and civil rights pioneer (See Promoting Anne Moody). We intend to use every available resource, including libraries, museums, and social media, to tell her story so that future generations will know of her sacrifice.
We are grateful to Cooper and The Natchez Democrat for their coverage of this historic event. What Cooper has shared in this moving article is highly significant and should be passed on to people everywhere. He has successfully and powerfully captured in a few words a story that should never be forgotten. And for that, we say, thanks! -- Roscoe Barnes III, Chairman, Anne Moody History Project
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Moody, others made the
world better
By Kevin Cooper
The Natchez Democrat
Published 11:36 pm
Saturday, September 9, 2017
More than 50 years after
she was mocked and demoralized for having the audacity to question a
fundamentally wrong status quo, civil rights activist and author Anne Moody
will be honored Friday in her hometown of Centreville.
The town plans to name a
street after Moody and hold a ceremony to commemorate the event on Moody’s
birthday. She died in 2015 at age 74.
While Moody is certainly
worthy of honor, somehow it seems she deserves more than just a road sign.
For many Americans, her
name may be unfamiliar, but for Mississippians her name should be familiar, but
sadly it’s not as well known as it should be.
Her 1968 book, “Coming of
Age in Mississippi,” was a raw look at her life as a black person living in the
Jim Crow era of Mississippi.
Aside from her landmark
book, Moody may be most well known for something that today seems unbelievably
common — she sat at a lunch counter at Woolworth’s store in Jackson during a
May 28, 1963, sit-in protest.
Moody was one of three
black students from Tougaloo College participating in the sit-in. The others
were Memphis Norman and Pearlena Lewis.
The three prayed at the
counter. Their action was part of a wider move to protest mistreatment of black
people in Jackson — and the greater South as well.
Because the students were
black and the lunch counter was segregated, a mob of white teenagers and young
men began harassing them.
The trio was joined at
some point by freedom rider Joan Trumpauer.
The participants were
simply sitting quietly, trying to protest the racial segregation without
violence, when the mob took matters into their own hands.
A newspaper photographer,
Fred Blackwell, captured what became an iconic image showing the utter
depravity of Mississippi’s racial problems.
Mob members look on
smugly, some smiling, while others poured items on the trio of protestors
trying to degrade them enough to make them leave.
“The mob started smearing
us with ketchup, mustard, sugar, pies and everything on the counter. Soon Joan
and I were joined by John Salter, but the moment he sat down he was hit on the
jaw with what appeared to be brass knuckles. Blood gushed from his face and
someone threw salt into the open wound.”
The three sat still,
trying to avoid further conflict.
When the mob realized
their humiliation effort had not worked they resorted to more violence.
“I was snatched from my
stool by two high school students,” she wrote, recounting the experience. “I
was dragged about 30 feet toward the door by my hair when someone made them
turn me loose.”
The visuals — both the
famous photo of the abuse at the sit-in and the word pictures Moody’s
descriptions provide — are difficult to comprehend.
The South operated under a
system of institutional bullying.
Sadly, Moody was one of
literally thousands of Americans who were abused by the morally warped system
of segregation.
Fortunately for our
country, Moody and others had the courage to stand up against the wrongs of
society. Their efforts ultimately led to a nation of improved equality.
America certainly is not
perfect, but through the efforts of heroes such as Anne Moody, Memphis Norman,
Pearlena Lewis, Joan Trumpauer and John Salter our world is better than it was
for past generations.
For that we should all be
grateful.
Kevin Cooper is publisher of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached
at 601-445-3539 or kevin.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com
COPYRIGHT © 2017,
Mississippi's Best Community Newspaper
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Editor's Note:
Questions about the Anne Moody History Project may be directed to Roscoe Barnes III via email at doctorbarnes3@gmail.com or roscoebarnes3@yahoo.com For updates on Anne Moody history and the on-going work of this community service project, simply follow this blog or follow AMHP on Twitter (@AnneMoodyHP). #ComingOfAgeinMississippi
