Thank You Mam
Black Women Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones can only be described as ALL women. Independent, strong, and sassy would be some of the major things shown in this woman. Mrs. Jones is what people call a “black woman that made it”. She is humble, being that she is not very flashy, and she is always willing to give back, considering that she cleaned and fed, Roger, a young man that tried to rob her. Langston Hughes, in Thank You Ma’am, shows Jones’ woman qualities through her mother-like qualities, willingness to give back to the less fortunate, and ability to understand.
Roger is taken in as if he was the child of Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. Mrs. Jones sees a boy that is in need of good parenting, instead of looking down on him as a criminal. Like a mother, “he scolds him, but takes care of him by making him clean up and then offering food”(‘A Quest For Change’). She tells him of his wrong doing and tries to tell him of the right direction to head towards success. As undeserving as Roger was, “in the end, she [Mrs. Luella Bates Washington] gives the boy some of her hard earned money after giving him some kindness and advice”(‘A Quest For Change’). This is a special kind of love in which only a mother-figure can give; she is paying the kid who just tried to mug her. Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones shows many maternal tones throughout the story.
Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones loves to give back. She can see Roger as a boy who is living without a lot of the necessary financial needs of the average child. Sadly, what is “inferred from the story is how many children in poor neighborhoods have very little to go home to, that they are neglected and need someone who cares”(‘Analysis of Thank You Ma’am’). Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones happened to be around to help one of the unfortunate children in Roger. She tells him “take this ten dollars and buy yourself some blue suede shoes… But I wish you would behave yourself, son, from here on in”
Roger is taken in as if he was the child of Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. Mrs. Jones sees a boy that is in need of good parenting, instead of looking down on him as a criminal. Like a mother, “he scolds him, but takes care of him by making him clean up and then offering food”(‘A Quest For Change’). She tells him of his wrong doing and tries to tell him of the right direction to head towards success. As undeserving as Roger was, “in the end, she [Mrs. Luella Bates Washington] gives the boy some of her hard earned money after giving him some kindness and advice”(‘A Quest For Change’). This is a special kind of love in which only a mother-figure can give; she is paying the kid who just tried to mug her. Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones shows many maternal tones throughout the story.
Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones loves to give back. She can see Roger as a boy who is living without a lot of the necessary financial needs of the average child. Sadly, what is “inferred from the story is how many children in poor neighborhoods have very little to go home to, that they are neglected and need someone who cares”(‘Analysis of Thank You Ma’am’). Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones happened to be around to help one of the unfortunate children in Roger. She tells him “take this ten dollars and buy yourself some blue suede shoes… But I wish you would behave yourself, son, from here on in”
Cited: Bilal, Ahmad. "ANALYSIS OF THANK YOU M 'AM: HALLIDAY 'S METAFUNCTIONS | Ahmad Bilal - Academia.edu." ANALYSIS OF THANK YOU M 'AM: HALLIDAY 'S METAFUNCTIONS | Ahmad Bilal - Academia.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2013 "The Causes of Inner-City Poverty: Eight Hypotheses in Search of Reality -- Abstract."The Causes of Inner-City Poverty: Eight Hypotheses in Search of Reality -- Abstract. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2013. Hughes , Langston. "Thank You, M 'am ." American Literature: Short Stories (1958): 27-30. American Literature. Web. 7 Feb 2013. Kennedy, David, and Lizabeth Cohen. "American Life in the "Roaring Twenties"." Trans. Array The American Pageant. Sally Constable. 13th Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006. 720-45. Print. Mangasarian, M.M. "The Punishment of Children." International Journal of Ethics 4.4 Jul. 1894. 493-98. JSTOR. Web. 7 Feb 2013. Suttor, Marijane. "Short Story Reviews: Thank You, M 'am by Langston Hughes." Helium. Helium, 19 Sep 2011. Web. 7 Feb 2013. "Thank You Ma’am by Langston Hughes | A Quest For Change." A Quest For Change. N.p., 20 Oct. 2010. Web. 07 Feb. 2013.