Everyone in the world has their own identity but some are still searching for it. Many base their identity on race, religion, culture and language because it’s easier to belong to a certain group. However, there are some people who struggle with finding where they belong. For instance, James McBride in The Color of Water wonders who he is through most his childhood and some of his adult life. Mcbride tries to find himself by learning about his mother's background. After evaluating his mom’s past
“The Color of Water” is an autobiography by James McBride. The book chronicles the trials and tribulations of McBride and his mother as they struggle with their identities. Throughout the book McBride alternates between his own story and that of his mother’s. This novel takes an in-depth look at the transformation of McBride and his mother as they evolve in acknowledging their identities. McBride never knew his mother's heritage growing up. Whenever McBride would question his mother about her ethnicity
Both James and his mother Ruth struggled to find their cultural identities. Growing up Ruth hid her past from her children; as a result, James suffered struggling to stay afloat to find his identity. It was not until James became a young adult that his mother chose to paint the true picture of her rough past, helping James accept who he is and understand where he came from. Summarization: James McBride is the son of Ruth McBride and is only one of twelve mixed race children. McBride delves into
The Color of Water, James McBride’s autobiography and tribute to his mother, gives the reader a look into his childhood and growing up biracial. James McBride was born to an African-American father and a Polish Jewish immigrant mother in 1957. While James was too young to fully grasp the civil rights and black power events that took place in the 1960s, he recounts experiencing these events vicariously through his older siblings. James McBride does a marvelous job at painting a vivid picture for his
Some children have difficulties accepting their race. In “The Color of Water” written by James McBride covers the story of a biracial man that is trying to find out more about his white mother. Throughout the book James McBride discusses how racism and acceptance from people can be difficult. In the text “The Color of Water”, racial tensions has had an effect on James mother Ruth’s along with James and other individuals who have dealt with being biracial while looking to being accepted in their
characters and the setting we can conclude that a recurring theme in James McBride’s The Color of Water is racial prejudice and injustice. Racial prejudice and injustice are still present in today’s society. All you have to do to see it is turn on the news. James McBride and his mother often dealt with racial prejudice in their daily lives whether it be during dinner or even church. One day, James noticed his mom crying when at church. James did a lot of thinking on why she cried during a church service
Racism is a major problem that has affected not only the way the people today live but the way James McBride portrayed the lifestyles of his characters in the book The Color of Water. Racism is the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races. Basically what that means is that people portray their race as the better race and will discriminate against any and all
have others telling you who you are and who you are supposed to be. These two put together makes it extremely hard to find yourself. In James McBride’s memoir The Color of Water, James McBride has conflicting feelings of being biracial illustrates how important it is to know where you came from and who you are in order to move forward in your life. In his memoir, James portrays how he had conflicting feelings about being biracial not knowing who he wanted to because of others
Sara Knigge The Color of Water Essay Racial Identity The Color of Water by James McBride was a story about a young boy trying to figure out his racial identity but his mother would not talk about her past or what race she was. All James knew was that she was white living in a black power neighborhood and that fact terrified him. He thought that to grow up he had to know his racial identity but through all the trouble and hard times he went through he learned that his race did not matter. It
James McBride has always struggled with his race and identity. Growing up with twelve brothers and sisters, both father figures in his life have passed away, and a white mother in a predominantly black community. In a time where being black is not so good. McBride never had it easy in his life. A lot of tragedy and self-discovery and acceptance had to happen in his life. Growing up in a time where all your heroes are white, in a school where you are just a joke and someone to pick on, and then trying