This short story titled “Thank You M’am” by Langston Hughes is a short but very powerful piece that’s about being kind, giving second chances, and foremost how a single moment can impact someone’s life for good. This story begins with a young fella named Roger, who tries to rob a purse from a lady (Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones) late at night. The woman’s reaction was unexpected. As one may think she was angered by such action, instead she took him to her home, fed him, chatted, and showed him a level of care he seemingly wasn’t used to.
What I enjoyed about this story was how Hughes built both characters through small yet meaningful actions. Mrs. Jones is strict but isn’t mean. She’s a woman that sets her boundaries yet is compassionate. Roger barely talks, yet through his actions (like sitting away from her purse or wanting to say “Thank You,” unsure of how to do so) determines how her kindness affects him. Being too descriptive isn’t in Hughes’s vocabulary, rather he lets the characters naturally reveal themselves.
The author uses simple but meaningful symbolism. We start with a purse that was seen as a target item that Roger tried stealing, but later became a symbol of trust. By leaving her purse out in the open, almost testing him, Roger chooses to not touch it. This subtle moment overall demonstrates how Mrs. Jones’s kindness inspired him to act differently.
The message behind this story is what stood out the most for me. Mrs. Jones doesn’t excuse Roger for what he did, yet she understood that people make mistakes, especially the young ones who might not receive the support they need in their own homes. Mrs. Jones gave Roger what he needed: food, guidance, and a little dignity over giving him a punishment for his wrongdoing. Hughes shows that compassion is way more powerful than judgment.
This story reminded me and should remind everyone too that although we may not know the kind of hardships one is facing, a small act of kindness can become a sweet memory that stays with the person for the rest of their lives. Even though this story may be old, the message conveyed is still relevant to this day. And there are still many young people that need guidance from someone that’s willing to help them instead of being given up on.
I definitely would recommend “Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes (known for his simple yet powerful writings) to other fellow students because the story itself makes you think about how your actions can impact someone else. Adding on, this short story is easy to understand and full of valuable meaning.
Get the story! “Thank You, M’am” is included in The Short Stories of Langston Hughes, which you can check out at BMCC’s Library, the New York Public Library, the Brooklyn Public Library, or the Queens Public Library.
About the author This review is by Yaretzi Chocolatl Perez.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
