Summer Reading

Summer Reading

The Color of Water, by James McBride is a story about a family, past and present, trying to fit into American society. The main character and author, James, was born and raised in New York City. He was a graduate of The Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio. He is a musician, artist, and writer creating many musical pieces and the novel “Miracle at Saint Anna” which was made into a movie. Throughout the autobiography, James learned about his mother’s horrific past while traveling through the steps of his life. It was a sad story of living in poor conditions, turmoil, and death.

In the story, the single, white mother, Ruth McBride, refuses to reveal her past to her twelve black children in order to create a sense of importance. By doing this many of the children became involved with the civil rights movements and also moved on to become widely known doctors and scientists. Throughout the book Ruth‘s contradicting views of whites and blacks greatly influenced her children, especially James. Because of his mother’s views, James became a non-prejudice person towards all races and helped instill a sense of peace into James.

Identity is a major part of The Color of Water. For instance, Ruth McBride started the book off by writing to her son stating “I’m dead.” This statement means she has no identity. Her identity was taken from her by her verbally abusive, greedy father as a child. Also, Mrs. McBride’s name was changed from “Ruchel Dwajra Zylska” to “Rachel Deborah Shilsky” to “Ruth McBride Jordan.” I believe this was done to cut all ties from her miserable childhood. Each name change helped Ruth pull further and further apart from her father’s tyrannical grip in his household. Discovering his mother’s history also helped James discover his true identity. Answering all his questions that troubled James throughout the book, helped him gain a sense of pride about his white out of place mother. Not until then did he truly understand where his mother’s beliefs came from.

In the book Ruth, like her father, was the absolute ruler of her household. However, unlike her father, Ruth succeeded in controlling her household while her father did not. This was because Ruth loved her family. Her dad on the other hand only loved money and nothing else. Her child-rearing was different in that she appointed the oldest child in charge while she was gone. On the other hand Ruth’s father was in charge all the time. Similarly Ruth and her dad had complete control.

The Color of Water was significant in itself. It helped express McBride’s views of race and religion. There is no color in water; thus meaning James believed there are no blacks or whites, nor Jews or Christian’s just humans. The book setting was in the sixties, a time where segregation was a large part of society. McBride thought that the new and changing world was a dangerous place through his childhood. Major events and people placed fear into his life not for himself but for his white mother.

When water is held up to the light there is no color, no pigmentation. The premise of this book is to instill a sense of equality between all races and religions. People should not be judged by their skin tone but by their actions. All should be treated with the same respect and honor.

Out of my entire summer reading, The Color of Water was by far the best book I read. It was a story with many positive and negative events and moments. The book brought a new light to the sixties, the Great Depression, and the conflict between the white man and black man. It is really two different life stories put in one well-known, well-written book. This book is and should always be a staple of schooling around the nation.

Luke R.