Beyond The Line Essay Question

“If you come back into this house without those groceries, I’ll whip you.” The mother in the story “The Night I Won the Right to the Streets of Memphis” by Richard Wright and Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones in “Thank You M’am” by Langton Hughes are the same in many ways. They both change small boys’ lives. They both are stern and forceful. Also they both send the boys into the world a different person.

First, the mom in “The Night I Won the Right to the Streets of Memphis” sent her son, Richard, out to get some groceries. It was the first time he had ever went by himself. After the second time a gang of boys jumped him and stole all of his money she forced him to go out and fight. She wouldn’t let him in until he got her groceries. Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones did the same to Roger. She fed him, cleaned him, and sent him out into the world with ten dollars and a changed heart. “I ran up the steps tried to force my way past her into the house. A stinging slap came on my jaw.”

Secondly they are both very stern and very forceful. Richard’s mother forced him into being a violent child who for the first time in his life hit people with sticks and yelled at adults. She forced him out of his environment. Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones forced Roger to become a better person. She made him change his evil ways to act how a good boy should act. She led him down the hall to the front door and opened it. “Good Night! Behave yourself, boy!” she said looking out into the street as he went down the steps.

Last but not least they both send the boys into the world a different person. Richard’s mom sends him out to the world a sweet young boy turned into a disrespectful young man. Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones turns Roger from a disrespectful young boy to a clean cut young man.

In conclusion the mother from “The Night I Won the Right to the Streets of Memphis” and Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones from “Thank You M’am” are similar in many ways. “By the time I’m through with you your going to remember Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones