Final answer:
The social issue in 'Thank You, Ma'am' is youth delinquency and the transformative power of kindness. Mrs. Jones responds to an attempted theft with empathy, providing the young boy with guidance and understanding.
Step-by-step explanation:
"Thank You, Ma'am" by Langston Hughes addresses the social issue of youth delinquency and the impact of kindness and moral guidance on young people. The story follows Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, a large woman with a large purse, who is nearly robbed by a young boy named Roger. Instead of calling the police, she takes him home, cleans him up, feeds him, and talks to him about his actions. The underlying social issue here is the cycle of poverty and crime, and how individual compassion can break that cycle. Mrs. Jones chooses to show Roger empathy and addresses his immediate need, which is assumed to be a proper meal, thereby giving him a different perspective on how to face his challenges in life.