The Color of Water

The Color of Water, written by James McBride, explores his mother’s past, as well as his own upbringing by describing his struggle to understand his racial identity. He was born from a white Jewish mother, Ruth McBride, who moved to Harlem, married a black man, and raised twelve children. McBride is a former staff writer for the Washington Post, People Magazine, and The Boston Globe. He has also worked as a composer and has written songs for Anita Baker, Gary Burton and for the PBS television character, Barney. James is also a saxophonist who tours with his jazz and R&B band.

Rachel was Ruth McBride’s name in her previous life, as a daughter of a Jewish immigrant family. Her life was very hard and she received no love or affection, only criticism. When she found love and acceptance among African Americans, she had to cut herself off from her old life and move on. By not speaking about her previous life, she believed that she could leave all of that behind her. Ruth lived her life as if being accepted or fitting in was irrelevant, by doing this, it complicated her children’s struggle to develop any sense of who they were. Ruth was declared “dead” by members of her Jewish Orthodox family for marrying a black man and leaving Judaism. This statement reflects on Ruth’s Jewish identity describing her rabbi father that was a sexually abusive man and who kept her enslaved. Rachel Shilsky had to die in order for the rest of her to live, identifies putting her Jewish life behind her and moving on.

Ruth’s children’s world and upbringing consisted of both black and white, confusing them on which race to lean towards. Ruth’s views on education, faith and family provided the view towards humanity that James McBride possesses. He used his education and experiences to overcome his mother’s contradictions of both races.

Ruth McBride’s name changing three times was a way to mark her past as history. Her parents changed her name to Rachel when they immigrated to America. When Rachel was nineteen, she changed her name to Ruth to appear less Jewish. When she moved to New York, married and began raising a family of her own as Ruth McBride Jordan, she then frequently puts her past behind and chooses to live her own identity.

Tateh ruled his household without love; he didn’t love his wife, sexually abused Ruth, and enslaved his son, Sam. Ruth ran her household similarly; she disciplined her children with the belt and instituted a king/queen system where the eldest reigned over the other children. The difference that separates the two is that Ruth ruled over her household and each of her children with love, which led to the success of her children.

Zach C.