Book Analysis: The Color of Water
The book, The Color of Water by James McBride presented many aspects of cultural diversity from different individuals to groups of people. The book is an autobiography about James McBride’s mother, Ruth. The author thoroughly explains what Ruth had to go through during the time where diversity amongst individuals was clearly avoided. In addition, it explains James’ life after the death of his father and the ups and downs he encountered. After reading this book, I now have a better understanding of how important it is for people accepted the differences in each other and accept that we are a country of cultural diversity, not divided groups. The analysis of this book will thoroughly explain the positive and
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Ruth Shilsky and her Orthodox Jewish family immigrated into the United States for a better life. Ruth was born in Poland on April 1, 1921 and came over to the United States at the age of two. The Shilsky’s traveled all around the United States looking for a job as a rabbi. Tateh, Ruth’s father, opened a grocery store in Suffolk, Virginia which was a town predominately black. Her father had a very racist’s personality, calling people offensive names and overcharging the people that came through his store which made him rich. As Ruth became older, she was sexually abused by her own father. Her father was very controlling with Ruth, especially when she worked at the family store. Ruth felt like she needed to leave the house, she needed to be away from her abusive, racist father. Once as Ruth graduated high school, she left the house and moved to Harlem, New York where she worked in her aunt’s factory making leather. Ruth settled with her relatives permanently. In Harlem, this is where Ruth met Andrew Dennis McBride whom was black. Remember, this was a time of a lot of hate towards blacks and Jewish people, many public services were segregated to divide the races which made it very hard on the young couple. She fell in love instantly with this gentleman, and eventually marrying him. Ruth’s family was not amused by her decision in marrying a black man they preferred her marrying a Jewish man. Ruth’s family rejected her, they considered Ruth “dead” to them because of the choices she made. The newly married couple went through vigorous amounts of hate from the people around them, especially the neighborhood where they lived which was predominantly black people. They were an interracial couple, living in a single race community which made it very difficult to live because of the amount of judgements and opinions they would receive. Ruth converted to Christianity to help cope with
a. Reading James McBride’s novel brought on a plethora of emotions. I sometimes forget just how trying life can be for “minorities.” For Ruth I mostly felt empathy and sadness. During her childhood, the white kids were mean to her, her father molested her and showed absolutely no respect for her mother, teen pregnancy/abortion, and then she finds the courage to leave where she finds true love not once, but twice only to have that ripped away from her. Ruth’s life is one struggle after another.
Ruth’s Jewish background, her conversion to Christianity, and James’ childhood influence James’ confusion with his identity. Ruth was born Jewish and lived her life experiencing multiple situations of discrimination growing up. Jews and Blacks were hated upon during that period and by her marrying a black man, it attracted even more discrimination towards her. James experienced discrimination when he was younger because he was black. James knows nothing about Ruth’s past because she had kept it a secret from him and his siblings since they were young. Ruth had taught them a mindset that is set to focus only on education and religion, not focusing on anything else so they couldn’t question other ideas Ruth did not want them to see. When Ruth was living in New York with her husband Andrew McBride, Ruth found out that her mother
Ruth felt connected to black culture in Harlem because she was never part of a group where she felt welcomed. She would support the Civil Rights acts as if they were her own. On the other hand, she felt rather excluded from the people living in the South. As she had a growing family to take care of, she would be in need of family and financial support, but they would purposely shun her. At a young age, Ruth a practicing Jew was ridiculed and bullied by classmates who were gentiles. It affected her so much she changed her name so she could fit in more, “My real name was Rachel, … but I used the name Ruth around white folk, because it didn't sound so Jewish, though it never stopped the other kids from teasing me” (McBride 80). Her parents forced Judaism on her, causing her to resent religion; therefore, she converted to Christianity when she was an adult. This conversion helped rediscover herself and create a new relationship with God. Ruth’s adult life changed significantly from her life in Suffolk. She needed some relief after separating from her family so she embraced her new religion and found the relief in practicing Christianity. Lastly, Ruth had two integrated marriages that changed her life and brought out the best of her; unfortunately, both died and Ruth was a widow who had to raise and support
man, her family cuts all ties with her and sit shiva, to prove that Ruth is no longer
James McBride was born in 1957 to Ruth and Dennis McBride and was raised in Brooklyn’s Red Hook projects with his eleven brothers and sisters (Bodhos 2). In 1997 McBride’s bestselling memoir The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother was published. The story is uniquely written in double voice with chapters alternating between chapters as the author recounts his life growing up as a biracial child and his mother recalls in detail her disownment from her Orthodox Jewish family, marrying a black man and successfully raising twelve biracial children. The connection of the two stories is compelling
In the book color of water by James mcbride talks about his mother Ruth's and how she had ups and downs in her younger life till now when she is a widow and how she a has this habit of riding her bicycle through the all- black neighborhood in which James and his family lived. In “The Color of Water,” by James McBride has many themes. Each theme he is trying to get a point across and he tries to make us understand what him and his family went through as being Jewish and African American. He tells about his past and his parents past to give us an idea of what they all went through. In this book he brings you into their lives.
Ruth and James had different experiences when they attended school. Back in the days, when Ruth attended school in Suffolk, there was a split between “white folks’ school and a black folks’ school and a Jewish school,” (McBride 79). The school Ruth attended was not actually a real school, but instead a synagogue, where they did not get a good education compared to what other students were learning in school. In contrast, James “was the only black kid,” (McBride 89), attending in his classroom and he would get called many names because he was the only black kid.
As a result of her restrictive upbringing, Ruth believed in freedom and encouraged her children to use the paths of education and hard work in order to achieve it. Her inclination toward a strong work ethic most likely stemmed from her background as a poor Jewish immigrant. Ruth’s family had to struggle and start from the bottom. Education provided a way for them to, “climb out of poverty,” (29); it provided the opportunity for them to determine their own path. When Ruth first came to New York, she had to work long, tiresome, and even dangerous jobs. By working hard, she was able to make a life for herself. Ruth was never lazy, and as such, she would not permit any sort of physical, mental, or spiritual laziness from her children. Ruth insisted on quality education and earnest, hard work so that her children would be able to escape the stresses of poverty
In 1921 Ruth McBride Jordan was born in Poland and grew up with a Jewish family. In 1923 Her family moved to the U.S when she was two years old and once she moved to the U.S her name was changed to Rachel Deborah Shilsky. They moved to Suffolk, Virginia town where most African Americans were living. Her father (Tateh) opened a grocery store and over charged his items and he also mistered his family. In 1930 Tateh raped Ruth and also made her and his children work at the store. In 1934 Sam (Ruth`s older brother) runs away from home and went Chicago because he couldn’t handle his father any longer. In 1936 Ruth meet a guy name peter. They secretly became boyfriend and girlfriend because Peter was an African America and she was a white Jewish girl and Ruth`s father hated African
The middle of the book takes more of a look of some of the prejudices that both Ruth and James went through during their upbringing. Ruth begins to talk about the difficulties that came with being Jewish and living in the South during that time period. She was always the target for mockery by her peers, but fortunately met a girl named Frances who truly accepted her for who she was. They would spend a lot of time together, most of the time at Frances’ house due Tateh’s discern for gentiles. James also faced similar prejudices at school. Since his mother put so much of an emphasis on schoolwork, James and all of his siblings would have to go to predominantly Jewish schools and were the objects of ridicule for the other students. There was one instance in particular in which James was asked by his classmates to dance because of a predisposed idea that because he was black he could dance. He danced for the class, but conflicting thoughts were rushing through his mind. He felt accepted by his peers, but also ashamed that he stooped so low to gain that acceptance. This example as well as other instances that occurred with his siblings showed the racial tensions that were filling the air at that time.
James’s mother provided the best education to her children. That meant attending schools that were located in Jewish neighborhoods. James and his siblings were often the only black children in their classes. I am unsurprised James felt uncomfortable in a class full of students with the same skin color. Students must have stared at him like he was an alien and made prejudice remarks. Yet, I understand Ruth’s decision for only wanting the best for her children. She is a mother and like all mothers around the world, she will do whatever she possibly
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