Thank You, Ma’am, Langston Hughes: Summary & Analysis
The story opens with the introduction of a "large woman" carrying a heavy purse over her shoulder. Late at night, while walking alone, she becomes the target of a young boy who attempts to steal her purse. However, due to its weight, the boy loses his balance and falls backward. Seizing the opportunity, the woman kicks him before shaking him vigorously and demanding that he retrieve her purse. She questions whether he feels any shame for his attempted robbery.
Plot Summary A Surprising Act of Kindness
The boy, dressed in tennis shoes and blue jeans, appears to be around fourteen or fifteen years old, and he is visibly intimidated by the imposing figure of the older woman. She notices the dirt on his face and realizes that he lacks proper care at home. Displaying a sense of compassion, the woman, who introduces herself as Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, decides to take him to her home to wash his face.
Inside her house, where she lives with other people, Mrs. Jones as…
