Color Of Water( James McBride)

The Color Of Water was written by James McBride. James McBride is an award -winning writer and musician. James McBride has been a staff writer for The Washington Post, People magazine,and The Boston Glove. As a composer, he won the Amercian Music Theater Festival's Stephen Sondheim Award for his jazz/ pop musical bobos.As a jazz saxophonist, he performed with legendary jazz performer Little Jimmy Scott. James McBride is also the author of Miracle at St. Anna and Song Yet Sung. The Color of Water spent more than two years on the New York Times best seller list and was published worldwide. The book also won the prestigious Anisfield- Wolf Book Award. The color of Water is about a young black boy( James McBride) who grew up with eleven other siblings and his white mother in one house. James McBride was trying to find himself and his identity in the book. He often wondered why he and his siblings were a different color from his mother. When he would ask her about this query she would respond to him and say" You're a Human Being." In order to find out who he was he would have to revisit his mother past, that she tried her best to forget. While revisiting his mother past, some of his questions were answered while others went unanswered. In the end, James McBride had a better understanding of himself and a greater appreciation for his mother.

Ruth McBride was James McBride's mother. She was a white Jewish girl growing up and she was the mother of twelve. Ruth McBride didn't reveal her past to her children because she wanted them to get a sense of who they were as individuals instead of finding out who they were based on her past and their skin color. Since she didn't reveal her past, her children had no choice but to be their selves; to have their own opinion, thoughts and beliefs. All twelve children are now successful and each have a mind of their own.

In the beginning of the book, Ruth McBride Jordon begins her story by telling her son that she is dead. Mrs. McBride Jordon does this because to her family and her past she is dead. Ruth McBride Jordon was born Ruchel Dwajra Zylska. She was an Orthodox Jew. When her family came to America, her parents got rid of that name and changed it to Rachel Deborah Shilsky. When she was nineteen she got rid of that name and changed it to Ruth. Ruth was dead to her family members because of her decision to marry a black man; Andrew McBride. To them that was unacceptable. Mrs. McBride Jordon said and I quote" Rachel Shilsky had to die in order for me, the rest of me , to live." Ruth McBride Jordon's changing of name is very significant. When Mrs. McBride Jordon got rid of Ruchel Dwajra Zylska, it signified that she was leaving Poland and that lifestyle behind. The name Rachel Shilsky signified that she was now in America and had to adopt to the Amercian lifestyle and still have her Jewish culture. Her name being changed to Ruth McBride Jordon was significant because it was who she wanted to be as an individual. As a matter of fact Ruth McBride was a new person, with her own ideas, beliefs, thoughts and opinions.

I think the contradictions made by Ruth McBride Jordon wasn't to confuse her children but to somewhat give them a sense of balance. The reason she felt white folks were implicitly evil towards blacks was because of the time and year they lived in, They lived in the years that blacks and whites were still not accepted together, there was a huge gap between the races. Although she know whites weren't so kind to blacks, she wanted her children to go to white schools. At the time white schools had the best education. Even though times were tough for her and the children, she never the need for the welfare even though she understood those who had welfare. I think these choices were to make her children stronger and wiser. I think these contradictions contribute to the balanced view of humanity that James McBride possesses.

Both Tateh and Ruth ran their households in a "tyrannical" manner. The reason Ruth succeeded was because she wasn't a dictator and in her own way she showed her children love. She taught them valuable lessons they need in life and push every single one of them to their furtherest abilities. Her father on the other hand, he was a dictator and ran his household in that manner. He showed no love to his children nor wife. His only concern was about his business and his money. Their child rearing styles were different. Tateh believed in the saying" Children should be seen and not heard". He worked his children hard and gave no pay. He tired to teach them to steal people money and how to scam them. He really and truly just cared about his money. Unlike Tateh, Ruth loved her children, she tired to have a relationship with all twelve. She stressed the need for an education, the need to go to church, the need to be respectful young ladies and gentlemen. Both Tateh and Ruth had strong- willed minds. Both were a dominant figure in their households. The major difference was Ruth succeeded in raising her children, while Tateh failed.

The recounting of James McBride mother's life helped him to discover himself and answer questions of race and and identity that always questions of race and indemnity that always troubled him his entire life. When Mr. McBride took a trip to Suffolk, Virginia, he re-entered his mother past. His mother never revealed any information about her past. To his mother her past was dead. Visiting Suffolk , Mr. McBride learnt about his mother Jewish background and her family members for the first time. He had no idea his background was Jewish. His mother raised him and his siblings in a christian environment. He often wondered as a child why he was black and his mother white,now going back to her past he was able to see her family tree. He learnt that her dad was a mean old man, who cared only about his money. He learnt how sweet his grandmother was and why his mother loved her so much. Re-visiting his mother past showed Mr. James McBride the reason his mother was the way she was, and why she was trying escape from her past and wanted her children to be his or her own individual.

The lives of McBride and his family members were marked by historical events and people related to race relations in the United States. McBride perceived some of the people and events as life changing for him. For example Black Panthers, Malcom X, Martin Luther King II and had a impact on his life. When he was growing up Black Power was in force, although he liked to see the signs and hear all the songs, he feared Black Power for his white mother. He feared the world wouldn't accept her if things should changed.

The titled of the book The color of Water is significant with respect to questions of race and religion because it means that race or religion shouldn't have an effect on the way people are viewed or the way people them self. Water has no color, it appears to be clear. The vision that this offers to Americans is that it shouldn't matter the race or religion of a person. We should all view each other as the color of water and maybe that would bring peace within our citizens. This might even eliminate racism, prejudice and sexism.

All in all, I loved The Color of Water . I think this book sheds light in important topics in society today; race and religion. I strongly recommend this book to others. While reading it, I could feel the emotions the author, James McBride was experiencing. The books was a comedy, action and at some points a tragedy. I laughed, cried and could relate throughout the book. The Color of Water is one of the most amazing books I've ever read.

Shanice Hines.