Thank You, M'am

“Thank You, M’am” is a 1958 short story by African American writer Langston Hughes, the figure perhaps most strongly associated with the Harlem Renaissance. This movement, which developed in 1920s and ’30s New York, witnessed the rise of a new generation of artists and intellectuals rooted in and speaking about black culture, identity, and history. For Hughes, who rose to prominence as a poet, this often meant working to capture the rhythms and patterns of traditionally black musical genres (e.g., the blues, spirituals, jazz). At other times, Hughes hearkened back to the mostly white literary tradition exemplified by writers like Walt Whitman, seeking to adapt their celebration of the American ethos to the black experience.

“Thank You, M’am” belongs to a different genre and era than Hughes’ best-known work but nevertheless has much in common with his earlier writings. Although Hughes never explicitly states that the characters are black, certain elements of the story are unique to the African American experience. The unnamed neighborhood in which the story takes place is most likely Harlem, which provides important historical context for Roger’s implied poverty; the neighborhood was devastated by the Great Depression and struggled to fully recover even in the prosperous years following World War II. In this sense, “Thank You, M’am” depicts the American dream (epitomized in Roger’s longing for a pair of blue suede shoes) as it tends to be for most black Americans: inaccessible.

Nevertheless, Hughes is unwilling to give up on the idea that a better life is possible for anyone willing to work hard and honestly for it. This is apparent in the story’s emphasis on the importance of personal responsibility: Although sympathetic to (what is implied to be) a home life characterized by deprivation and neglect, Hughes depicts Roger as a free agent who is accountable for the choices he makes. This is perhaps the central lesson that Roger learns in the story, as Mrs. Jones insists that Roger take responsibility for his actions, from attempted theft to personal hygiene.

With that said, the story as a whole is much more interested in forgiveness than in giving Roger what he “deserves.” In fact, its emphasis on personal accountability is grounded in its respect for Roger’s basic humanity; it’s precisely because Mrs. Jones sees him as a person capable of change, not a victim of circumstances, that she treats him as she does. The story seeks to temper more hardline views on individual responsibility with the understanding that kindness and empathy can be powerful tools in encouraging a sense of agency and accountability.