the color of water essay topics

Presentations made painless

• Get Premium

107 The Color of Water Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

The Color of Water by James McBride is a powerful memoir that explores themes of identity, family, and race. With its unique dual narrative structure, the book offers a wealth of essay topics for students to explore and analyze. Here are 107 The Color of Water essay topic ideas and examples to inspire your next paper:

• How does the dual narrative structure of The Color of Water enhance the reader's understanding of the story?
• Analyze the role of race in The Color of Water and how it shapes the characters' identities.
• Discuss the importance of religion in the memoir and how it influences the characters' beliefs and values.
• Explore the theme of family in The Color of Water and how it impacts the characters' relationships.
• Compare and contrast James McBride's experiences with racism to his mother's experiences.
• Analyze the significance of the title, The Color of Water, and what it represents in the memoir.
• Discuss the challenges of growing up biracial in America as portrayed in The Color of Water.
• How does Ruth McBride's past shape her present identity and relationships with her children?
• Analyze the theme of forgiveness in The Color of Water and how it impacts the characters' personal growth.
• Explore the theme of education in the memoir and how it shapes the characters' futures.
• Discuss the influence of music and culture on the characters in The Color of Water.
• Analyze the theme of self-discovery in the memoir and how it impacts the characters' sense of identity.
• Compare and contrast the ways in which James McBride and his mother cope with their past traumas.
• Discuss the role of storytelling in The Color of Water and how it helps the characters heal from their wounds.
• Explore the theme of resilience in the memoir and how it shapes the characters' ability to overcome adversity.
• Analyze the theme of sacrifice in The Color of Water and how it impacts the characters' relationships.
• Discuss the ways in which Ruth McBride's faith influences her decisions and actions throughout the memoir.
• Compare and contrast the ways in which Ruth McBride and her children navigate their biracial identities.
• Analyze the theme of redemption in The Color of Water and how it impacts the characters' journeys towards self-acceptance.
• Discuss the significance of Ruth McBride's decision to change her name and how it reflects her desire for a new identity.
• Explore the theme of acceptance in the memoir and how it shapes the characters' relationships with themselves and others.
• Analyze the ways in which Ruth McBride's experiences as a child impact her parenting style and relationships with her children.
• Discuss the theme of cultural assimilation in The Color of Water and how it impacts the characters' sense of belonging.
• Compare and contrast the ways in which Ruth McBride and her children navigate their dual cultural identities.
• Analyze the theme of perseverance in the memoir and how it shapes the characters' ability to overcome obstacles.
• Discuss the ways in which Ruth McBride's past traumas influence her relationships with her children.
• Explore the theme of legacy in The Color of Water and how it impacts the characters' sense of self-worth.
• Analyze the ways in which Ruth McBride's experiences as an immigrant shape her sense of identity and belonging.
• Discuss the theme of forgiveness in The Color of Water and how it impacts the characters' ability to heal from past wounds.
• Compare and contrast the ways in which Ruth McBride and her children cope with their shared history of trauma.
• Analyze the theme of resilience in the memoir and how it shapes the characters' ability to bounce back from adversity.
• Explore the theme of redemption in The Color of Water and how it impacts the characters' journeys towards self-acceptance.
• Analyze the significance of Ruth McBride's decision to change her name and how it reflects her desire for a fresh start.
• Discuss the theme of acceptance in the memoir and how it shapes the characters' relationships with themselves and others.
• Analyze the theme of cultural assimilation in The Color of Water and how it impacts the characters' sense of belonging.
• Discuss the ways in which Ruth McBride's experiences as a child impact her parenting style and relationships with her children.
• Explore the theme of perseverance in the memoir and how it shapes the characters' ability to push through obstacles.
• Analyze the ways in which Ruth McBride's past traumas influence her relationships with her children.
• Discuss the theme of legacy in The Color of Water and how it impacts the characters' sense of self-worth.
• Analyze the theme of forgiveness in The Color of Water and how it impacts the characters' ability to heal from past wounds.

In conclusion, The Color of Water by James McBride offers a rich tapestry of themes and characters to explore in an essay. Whether you're interested in race, family, identity, or resilience, there's plenty to dissect and analyze in this powerful memoir. Use these 107 essay topic ideas and examples to spark your creativity and craft a compelling paper on The Color of Water.

Want to create a presentation now?

Instantly Create A Deck

Let PitchGrade do this for me

Hassle Free

We will create your text and designs for you. Sit back and relax while we do the work.

Explore More Content

• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service

© 2023 Pitchgrade

• study guides
• lesson plans
• homework help

The Color of Water Essay Topics & Writing Assignments

Essay Topic 1

Examine McBride's writing style. How would you describe his prose style? What kind of vocabulary does he use? Does he use any specific writing techniques? What meaning does McBride's style give to his story?

Essay Topic 2

Identify the main themes of the story. Why do you think these themes are so important to the story? How does McBride use character and setting to express his themes?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss differences between the novel and autobiography formats. What are the main elements of a novel? What are the main elements of an autobiography? What can novelists express that an autobiographer cannot? How can autobiographies keep to the facts while still maintaining a level of entertainment?

Essay Topic 4

What major events had a profound affect on McBride's life and how did they change him?

Essay Topic 5

Look at the structure of the book.

1) Discuss elements of the narrative...

(read more Essay Topics)

FOLLOW BOOKRAGS:

The Color of Water

By james mcbride, the color of water themes, death and rebirth.

Ruth begins telling her story by insisting that she is "dead": her Orthodox Jewish family "sat shiva" and "said kaddish" after she married a black man, thereby effectively disowning her. Ruth, however, states that "the Jew" in her only died completely upon her mother's death. Soon afterwards, she was "born again" in the Christian faith. Her husband stood alongside her, and together they created a new family. Ruth tells her son that Rachel Deborah Shilsky "had to die in order for me, the rest of me, to live" (2). When Ruth's son James decides to explore his mother's history and origins, the original Rachel Deborah Shilsky figuratively comes back to life within the pages of memoir.

When James asks his mother whether God is black or white, he is a boy living in a predominantly black community with a mother who looks white, and is simply expressing his personal confusion about race. To add to the confusion, however, his mother simply responds that she is "light-skinned". When his mother explains that God doesn't have a color, and that God is "the color of water", the image converges questions of racial and religious division into an essence that is clear and universally spiritual - in other words, "human".

The American Dream

When the Shilskys immigrate to America, they find a safe haven from the turmoil of Europe. The immigrant experience is also marked by the pursuit of the American Dream, as the family eventually settles in Suffolk, Virginia. Tateh opens a store, and the generational rift between the parents and the children intensifies. The division is particularly strong between Tateh, who can speak English, and Mameh , who cannot.

When Ruth's name is changed from Ruchel Dwajra Zylska to Rachel Deborah Shilsky, she undergoes a formal "Americanization". In high school, when she first begins going by Ruth instead of Rachel to appear less outwardly Jewish, she also undergoes another kind of change. When she moves away to New York, marries, and begins raising a family of her own as Ruth McBride Jordan, she becomes the kind of American who actively chooses her own destiny.

Ruth moves with her husband and their four children to Brooklyn's Red Hook Housing Projects, a place that she describes as exemplifying the "real American life" she has always dreamed of. As each of her twelve children finish college, become teachers, doctors, musicians, and businessmen and raise families of their own, another kind of "American Dream" comes true for Ruth.

According to James, his mother denied her Jewish history, but sought a Jewish-style education for her children nonetheless. When the brief window of opportunity came, Ruth seized the chance to choose predominantly Jewish schools for each of her children to attend. In the house, the emphasis lay on grades and on church. She consistently drummed into their minds that money was nothing without education, and that education was the only avenue to making something of themselves. Being the token black students in their Jewish public schools, James and his siblings learned to survive in the world by performing well.

To supplement his formal education, James sought a "street education" in Louisville, Kentucky, where he stayed during the summers he was in high school. In Louisville, he frequented "the Corner", where Chicken Man offered him good advice, dispelling his naive belief that being a man on "the Corner" was a desirable life. Chicken Man insisted that he concentrate on his education, and that he try to pursue a better life.

The book contrasts Ruth's own experience with those found in the two communities to which she has belonged. On the one hand, her cold Orthodox Jewish family disowned her, turned all the mirrors in the house face-down, and declared her "dead". They refused to give her aid when her husband passed away, leaving her with eight children to raise alone. They felt that they were no longer responsible for her fate, since she "died" in the eyes of their community when she married a black man.

The black community, on the other hand, wholeheartedly embraced Ruth. Ruth describes how, when she returned from burying Dennis's body in North Carolina, she discovered the mailbox stuffed with checks and money orders and cash from many of the people who had known them. Aunt Candis and Jacqueline also arrived to help. Ruth's household was its own microcosm, a private space where her children could grow up surrounded by the members of their own unique community.

Household Governance

Tateh ruled his household without love: he did not love his wife, he sexually abused Ruth, and he practically enslaved his son Sam . Ruth ran her household with a similarly tight rein, disciplining her children with the belt and instituting an informal "king/queen system" where the eldest reigned over the other children and answered directly to her. She, in turn, deferred to God. In the end, however, the key difference that separates Tateh's rule from Ruth's is that Ruth ruled over her household and each of her children with love.

Memory and Vision

Ruth tells James that his father Andrew McBride , a reverend, was a man with "vision". She sighs and then states that the times are different. Circumstances are different; they make for different men. It is hard to find a good minister with "vision" these days, according to Ruth. She states that it has something to do with "foresight", and James admits to his mother that he does not have it.

The irony is that while memoir-writing and the act of "remembering" constitute a journey back in time, what is found there generates a possible source of new strength. Crucial to any idea of the future, the remembered history becomes a part of a person's identity, adds depth to the experience of living, and serves as a link between the present and the future. While James may not have the kind of "vision" that Ruth admires, he has the kind that is, perhaps, the necessary starting place for any fresh imagining of the future.

The Color of Water Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Color of Water is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

The color of water

I think drag races to watch his stepfather.

What is the ache inside James that gets bigger as it grows?

That would be his mother's white skin.

What event is related to Ruth’s claustrophobia?

I think it is her grandfather's death.

Study Guide for The Color of Water

The Color of Water study guide contains a biography of James McBride, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Color of Water
• The Color of Water Summary
• Character List

Essays for The Color of Water

The Color of Water literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Color of Water.

• Constructing an Identity: James McBride and Richard Wright
• Discerning Racial "Color": Ruth's Role in The Color of Water
• Finding Yourself: Emotions and Origins in The Color of Water
• Literacy v Bigotry

Lesson Plan for The Color of Water

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to The Color of Water
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• The Color of Water Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for The Color of Water

• Introduction

The Color of Water

James mcbride, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Race and Racism

Almost every scene in The Color of Water takes place against a backdrop of anti-Black racism in America. Much of the book occurs during the Jim Crow era and the Civil Rights Movement, a time where black Americans were regarded as second-class citizens and policed through a series of racist laws and restrictive social norms. This affects the opportunities, self-esteem, and even human rights of the central black characters, but also affects characters like Ruth …

Otherness and Belonging

James and Ruth spend much of their lives feeling as though they do not belong to their immediate communities. Ruth is an outsider both in her white, Christian southern town, as well as in her birth religion of Judaism. For his part, James presents as black, but as a child senses he is not exactly like the other black children in his neighborhood. Both mother and son are constantly seeking out spaces that will give…

Family is usually a source of love and comfort, but it can also be a source of great pain. In The Color of Water , family means not just one’s biological relations, but also a large web of friends and loved ones. Ruth ’s immediate family is made up of her siblings, her mother and father, and a network of aunts and uncles. Although they offer her the most basic life necessities—food, water, a place…

Memory and Identity

Ruth McBride-Jordan sees her former self, Rachel Shilsky, as an entirely separate person. She uses her memories to divide her life in half, and attempts to erase the earlier version of herself. Rachel Shilsky only exists in memories, and because Ruth chooses not to access these memories, Rachel essentially ceases to exist and Ruth continues on without a past. However, Ruth isn’t the only one affected by her memories. Cultural memory and familial history are…

Religion in The Color of Water provides the protagonists with a framework within which they are able to develop individual identities and organize their morals and values. Regardless of denomination, whether it is Orthodox Judaism or Lutheranism, religion informs the behaviors of its devotees, and by extension how they view themselves. This is clearest in Ruth ’s conversation from Judaism to Christianity, a change with represents not just a crisis of faith, but a complete…

Personal Development in James McBride’s “The Color of Water” Essay

One of the most important conflicts that have ever been raised throughout the history is the problem of personal development. Even now it is still on the agenda of the modern world. Like any other person, the character of the memoir by McBride is changing together with the world around him. In the midst of finding his racial identity, James realized that in order to reach his identity as jazz musician and a writer, he had to ignore his racial issues.

It is clear from the very beginning that there is certain link between James and his mother, but it is obviously different from the one that intertwines a child and his mother. As the story unwinds, it becomes evident that James and his mother are interrelated in much more subtle way.

They both possess certain secret within them, the secret of their origin and their life. It is quite peculiar though that, in contrast to his mother, who is trying to keep her secret deep inside, James is eagerly trying to find the answer to his secret: “Sometimes it seemed like the truth was a bandy-legged soul who dashed from one side of the world to the other and I could never find him” (McBride 145).

What is peculiar about James as a child is that he wanted to know the truth, no matter what it might turn for him. Such attitude is strikingly contrasting to the adult James, a confident and self-assured man with few or no doubts.

His eager attempt to unveil the mystery of their family is dominating over him, possessing his entire self and calling back to his ancestors. Perhaps, this is the “call of the wild” that has been spoken so much of. Anyway, the novel starts with a story of quite happy family.

Growing increasingly interested in his origin and his real story, James is slowly becoming aware of the fact that he is different from the some of the people in the city. It must be admitted that the process is not harsh and quick – on the contrary, it takes James much time to realize that certain people take him wrong and have the wrong ideas about James and his family. Consequently, the character of the book starts searching for the truth that he has been protected from for such long time:

I felt like a Tinkertoy kid building my own self out of one of those toy building sets; for as she laid her life before me, I reassembled the tableau of her words like a picture puzzle, and as I did, so my own life was rebuilt. (McBride 211)

Can his mother’s attempt to conceal the truth be considered as a wise decision? On the one hand, James would have suffered from the idea that he is considered an outcast by the adults. Such knowledge can be quiet dangerous, which his mother, Ruth, understood well enough. Also, shielding her beloved child from the harsh reality, she proved that she can be considered a real mother.

However, James’s personal development does not stop at this point. Together with the realization of the fact that there is “something wrong” with people’s attitude towards him, he understands that the relations within his family will never be the same.

Such turn in his personal development means that James has grown enough to overcome another stage of his life and become an adult – a person who takes full account of his actions and deeds. “There’s such a big difference between being dead and alive, I told myself” (178), McBride confessed, and it seems that the author has decided to live the full life despite all that happened to him.

It is quite logical that this results in his split with the family. Unless James had started to search fro the truth on his own, he would have stayed under the shield of illusions forever. This means that he would have never gained an opportunity to live his own life – what he would have to take would have been the life of an average man, but not the journey of James, the adult person, “a bird who flies” (165).

It is also quite peculiar that James denies the belief of his family: “It’s a real workout, which is maybe why I’m not a Jew now. There were too many rules to follow, too many forbidden and “you cant’s” and “you musnt’s,” but does anybody say they love you?” Despite the controversy of this statement, it cannot be considered as an attempt to betray the faith – this is rather a step of a grown-up man who is certain about his wishes and needs.

Compared to him, his mother could be depicted as the person with rather weak will and the one tending to bow to the others’ judgement. However, such judgement seems rather half-baked as one takes a closer look at the woman’s biography. Considered a “great woman” by her son’s new friend, she is a specimen of the people who are able to endure numerous problems only to grow stronger.

Though her and her son’s characters are strikingly different, a certain trait brings them together. Each of them a rebel in their own way, these people lead the lives that could be described as a rebellion – the one that has to struggles themselves for a way out of misery. That is why these characters are quite close to each other.

Mommy’s tears seemed to come from somewhere else, a place far away, a place inside her that she never let any of us children visit, and even as a boy I felt there was pain behind them (McBride 39).

Strong, reserved and yet loving and devoted, Ruth McBride was depicted like a woman warrior. She would never let her children suffer. She would never give up. This influenced James’s temper, making him more vulnerable and unable to handle sudden sorrow or pain.

It must be admitted though that the mother and her son’s ideas of what a comfortable life is did not match. In contrast to Ruth, who was trying to forget the haunting memories of the past, James was trying to find out as much about his own descent as he could. This brought certain conflict into the family and led to the discord between the mother and her child.

It is only several years after the conflict that James realizes what an extraordinary person his mother was. However, in McBride’s story, it is his friend who helps him to pay the tribute to the mother, because by comparing her to the friend’s mother, the author realizes Ruth’s strength and her sufferings:

Only then I revealed to him that my mother was the daughter of an Orthodox Jewish rabbi did his Jewish background emerge, because he understood the true depth of mother’s experience immediately. “What a woman,” he said (McBride 172).

However, these are rather James’s own words. Although they have been spoken by another man, they belong to James. The time has come for him to pay tribute to his mother, and James knows it well.

It must be mentioned though that James started realizing that his origin is a secret despite his mother’s attempts to conceal the truth. Even with his friends’ loyal attitude and their innocent childhood when James was sure that he was just like the rest of children, he finally started feeling that there was something wrong. Looking at his white-skinned mother and comparing himself to her and the other people, the author came to the conclusion that there was something that Ruth did not want to tell him.

It is also quite important that, as James grows into a man, he still had the loyalty of his friends and the possibility of rebuilding the relationships with his family. As the author himself confessed, his friends created the atmosphere where the origin, of skin color, or anything else of that kind had any significance.

Since the environment that the boy from the story was growing in was rather friendly towards him, he grew into the self-respecting, mature adult. With help of his little friends, James managed to forget about the problems that his skin color triggered and the gossips that it caused. “My black friends never asked me how much money I made, or what school my children went to, or anything like that.

They just said, “Come as you are,”” (McBride 110) the author recollected. These were the first and the most important lessons of tolerance and peace making that played such important part in the author’s personal development and his ideas concerning the issues of racial discrimination. What is the most tragic about the lead character’s fate is that he learned to fear not only the power of the white people, but also the power of the Black:

But there was a part of me that feared black power very deeply for the obvious reason. I thought black power would be the end of my mother. I had swallowed the white man’s fear of the Negro, as we were called back then, whole. (McBride 15)

It is obvious that, despised by the white peers and afraid of the Black, James cannot reconcile with his own feelings. That is why James comes to conflicting with the entire world – he merely cannot find the place where he belongs. It is peculiar that the change that brought him to the deplorable state was caused by the social rejection, whereas his spiritual renaissance was the result of his family’s support. It must have been a shock for James to find out that what he had been searching for was within his reach all the time.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, March 4). Personal Development in James McBride's "The Color of Water". https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-color-of-water/

"Personal Development in James McBride's "The Color of Water"." IvyPanda , 4 Mar. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/the-color-of-water/.

IvyPanda . (2024) 'Personal Development in James McBride's "The Color of Water"'. 4 March.

IvyPanda . 2024. "Personal Development in James McBride's "The Color of Water"." March 4, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-color-of-water/.

1. IvyPanda . "Personal Development in James McBride's "The Color of Water"." March 4, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-color-of-water/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Personal Development in James McBride's "The Color of Water"." March 4, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-color-of-water/.

• Cornell McBride Sr.'s Biography
• The Color of Water by James McBride
• Minority Issues in The Color of Water by James McBride
• Marketing Plan for the McBride Financial Services
• McBride Financial Services: Marketing Plan
• The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother
• Research Methods Used in Motivation and Emotion Studies
• Myth of Individual Opportunity
• Adolescent Moral Development in the United States
• Beauty and Harmony in Cultural Studies and Social Tastes
• Horizon Restaurant Experience
• Critical Evaluation of Self, God and Other Philosophical Phenomena
• Essay on My Values in Life
• College Technology Application
• Most Influential People - My Uncle Jack

The Color of Water

75 pages • 2 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-4

Chapters 5-8

Chapters 9-12

Chapters 13-18

Chapters 19-22

Chapter 23-Epilogue

Key Figures

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Growing Up With a Diverse Racial Background in America

The dominant conflict in The Color of Water is James’s profound racial dissonance as the son of a white Jewish mother and a Black man.

As a child, James questions why he looks different from his mother. In the 1960s, the emergence of the Black Power movement highlights James’s inability to know where and how he fits. James is attracted to the fashion and iconography associated with the movement, but he is also susceptible to the media narrative about Black Power and its most visible and controversial auxiliary group, the Black Panthers. As he watches white newscasters incite panic over the supposed threat the Panthers pose to white America, James concludes that the Black Power movement must logically be a threat to his white mother. This panic culminates in an incident in which he punches the adolescent son of a Black Panther because he believes the boy’s father is going to try to kill Ruth.

Get access to this full Study Guide and much more!

• 7,400+ In-Depth Study Guides
• 4,900+ Quick-Read Plot Summaries
• Downloadable PDFs

Don't Miss Out!

Access Study Guide Now

Related Titles

By James McBride

Deacon King Kong

James McBride

Miracle at St. Anna

Song Yet Sung

The Good Lord Bird

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

Featured Collections

African American Literature

View Collection

American Literature

Black History Month Reads

Civil Rights & Jim Crow

Common Reads: Freshman Year Reading

Community Reads

Religion & Spirituality

SuperSummary New Releases

Authors & Events

Recommendations

• New & Noteworthy
• Bestsellers
• Popular Series
• The Must-Read Books of 2023
• Popular Books in Spanish
• Coming Soon
• Literary Fiction
• Mystery & Thriller
• Science Fiction
• Spanish Language Fiction
• Biographies & Memoirs
• Spanish Language Nonfiction
• Dark Star Trilogy
• A Joe Pickett Novel
• Penguin Classics
• Award Winners
• The Parenting Book Guide
• Books to Read Before Bed
• Books for Middle Graders
• Trending Series
• Magic Tree House
• The Last Kids on Earth
• Planet Omar
• Beloved Characters
• The World of Eric Carle
• Llama Llama
• Junie B. Jones
• Peter Rabbit
• Board Books
• Picture Books
• Guided Reading Levels
• Middle Grade
• Activity Books
• Trending This Week
• Top Must-Read Romances
• Page-Turning Series To Start Now
• Books to Cope With Anxiety
• Short Reads
• Anti-Racist Resources
• Staff Picks
• Memoir & Fiction
• Features & Interviews
• Emma Brodie Interview
• James Ellroy Interview
• Nicola Yoon Interview
• Qian Julie Wang Interview
• Deepak Chopra Essay
• How Can I Get Published?
• For Book Clubs
• Reese's Book Club
• Oprah’s Book Club
• happy place " data-category="popular" data-location="header">Guide: Happy Place
• the last white man " data-category="popular" data-location="header">Guide: The Last White Man
• Authors & Events >
• Our Authors
• Michelle Obama
• Zadie Smith
• Emily Henry
• Amor Towles
• Colson Whitehead
• In Their Own Words
• Qian Julie Wang
• Patrick Radden Keefe
• Phoebe Robinson
• Emma Brodie
• Ta-Nehisi Coates
• Laura Hankin
• Recommendations >
• 21 Books To Help You Learn Something New
• The Books That Inspired "Saltburn"
• Insightful Therapy Books To Read This Year
• Historical Fiction With Female Protagonists
• Best Thrillers of All Time
• Manga and Graphic Novels
• happy place " data-category="recommendations" data-location="header">Start Reading Happy Place
• How to Make Reading a Habit with James Clear
• Why Reading Is Good for Your Health
• 10 Facts About Taylor Swift
• New Releases
• Memoirs Read by the Author
• Our Most Soothing Narrators
• Press Play for Inspiration
• Audiobooks You Just Can't Pause
• Listen With the Whole Family

The Color of Water Reader’s Guide

By james mcbride.

Category: Biography & Memoir

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Tumblr

READERS GUIDE

Questions and topics for discussion.

James McBride grew up one of twelve siblings in the all-black housing projects of Red Hook, Brooklyn, the son of a black minister and a woman who would not admit she was white. The object of McBride’s constant embarrassment, and his continuous fear for her safety, his mother was an inspiring figure, who through sheer force of will saw her dozen children through college, and many through graduate school. McBride was an adult before he discovered the truth about his mother: the daughter of a failed itinerant Orthodox rabbi in rural Virginia, she had run away to Harlem, married a black man, and founded an all-black Baptist church in her living room in Red Hook. In this remarkable memoir, she tells in her own words the story of her past. Around her narrative, James McBride has written a powerful portrait of growing up, a meditation on race and identity, and a poignant, beautifully crafted hymn from a son to his mother.

James McBride, a writer and musician, is a former staff writer for The Boston Globe , People magazine, and The Washington Post . A professional saxophonist and composer, he has received the Richard Rodgers Development Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Music Theater Festival’s Stephen Sondheim Award for his work in musical theater composition. He lives in South Nyack, New York.

Overwhelming acclaim for James McBride’s unforgettable memoir: “Vibrant.” — The Boston Globe “Incredibly moving.” — Jonathan Kozol “James McBride evokes his childhood trek across the great racial divide with the kind of power and grace that touches and uplifts all hearts.” — Bebe Moore Campbell “Complex and moving… suffused with issues of race, religion and identity. Yet those issues, so much a part of their lives and stories, are not central. The triumph of the book — and of their lives — is that race and religion are transcended in these interwoven histories by family love, the sheer force of a mother’s will and her unshakable insistence that only two things really mattered: school and church… The two stories, son’s and mother’s, beautifully juxtaposed, strike a graceful note at a time of racial polarization. — The New York Times Book Review

• Discuss Ruth McBride’s refusal to reveal her past and how that influenced her children’s sense of themselves and their place in the world. How has your knowledge — or lack thereof — about your family background shaped your own self-image?  
• The McBride children’s struggle with their identities led each to his or her own “revolution.” Is it also possible that that same struggle led them to define themselves through professional achievement?  
• Several of the McBride children became involved in the civil rights movement. Do you think that this was a result of the times in which they lived, their need to belong to a group that lent them a solid identity, or a combination of these factors?  
• “ Our house was a combination three-ring circus and zoo, complete with ongoing action, daring feats, music, and animals .” Does Helen leave to escape her chaotic homelife or to escape the mother whose very appearance confuses her about who she is?  
• “ It was in her sense of education, more than any other, that Mommy conveyed her Jewishness to us .” Do you agree with this statement? Is it possible that Ruth McBride Jordan’s unshakable devotion to her faith, even though she converted to Christianity from Judaism, stems from her Orthodox Jewish upbringing?  
• “ Mommy’s contradictions crashed and slammed against one another like bumper cars at Coney Island. White folks, she felt, were implicitly evil toward blacks, yet she forced us to go to white schools to get the best education. Blacks could be trusted more, but anything involving blacks was probably substandard… She was against welfare and never applied for it despite our need, but championed those who availed themselves of it. ” Do you think these contradictions served to confuse Ruth’s children further, or did they somehow contribute to the balanced view of humanity that James McBride possesses?  
• While reading the descriptions of the children’s hunger, did you wonder why Ruth did not seek out some kind of assistance?  
• Do you think it was naïve of Ruth McBride Jordan to think that her love for her family and her faith in God would overcome all potential obstacles or did you find her faith in God’s love and guidance inspiring?  
• How do you feel about Ruth McBride Jordan’s use of a belt to discipline her children?  
• While reading the book, were you curious about how Ruth McBride Jordan’s remarkable faith had translated into the adult lives of her children? Do you think that faith is something that can be passed on from one generation to the next or do you think that faith that is instilled too strongly in children eventually causes them to turn away from it?  
• Do you think it would be possible to achieve what Ruth McBride has achieved in today’s society?  

Related Books and Guides

Visit other sites in the Penguin Random House Network

Raise kids who love to read

Today's Top Books

Want to know what people are actually reading right now?

An online magazine for today’s home cook

Just for joining you’ll get personalized recommendations on your dashboard daily and features only for members.

• Homework Help
• Essay Examples
• Citation Generator
• Writing Guides
• Essay Title Generator
• Essay Topic Generator
• Essay Outline Generator
• Flashcard Generator
• Plagiarism Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Conclusion Generator
• Thesis Statement Generator
• Introduction Generator
• Literature Review Generator
• Hypothesis Generator
• Color Of Water Essays

The Color of Water by James McBride Essays Examples

892+ documents containing “color of water” .

Filter by Keywords:(add comma between each)

Color of water racism and.

Opposite to Ruth, James' experience with racial and religious discrimination is somewhat different because the era changed. When James was in his early adulthood, the perspectives started to change and racial discrimination was viewed as an issue that must be changed. The difference in approaches can be related to the nature of the individuals, Ruth and James, but as well to the changing times. The nature of the two characters is different as a result of age and background. While Ruth experienced many of the possible evils to be experienced by a child, James was taken care of, even though the money shortage was obvious. Thus, the nature of the persons differs. Ruth is more submissive and more reluctant to address openly the issue of racial discrimination. At the same time however, her dedication for her children to learn and become good men may be interpreted as a hidden desire….

Bibliography

Mc Bride, James. The color of water. A black man's tribute to his white mother. New York: Riverhead Trade, 1997.

Color of Water

Color of Water is an autobiographical account of the lives of the author, James McBride and his white mother uth, and explores issues of racial prejudice and religious discrimination. While the author's journey as an African-American is important, it cannot be read in the same context as other commonly known stories of suffering and prejudice in the South. This is because James McBride's story was influenced and defined by the perpetual presence of a white person in his life, his mother. In other words James' mother uth McBride played an extremely important role in the way her children perceived racism and related problems. While white people have always been severely criticized for their mistreatment of other races, this book gives us a different image of whites. The book explains that not all white people are racist and that for some such folks, forces of love and affection are superior to….

James McBride, The color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother Riverhead Books; Reissue edition (February 1997)

Color of ater James McBride was born of an interracial marriage between a white, Jewish mother and a Black, Christian father. Some of his negative life experiences included racism, poverty, segregation, and a substandard education. However, while he experienced many prejudices, he has also experienced many good and positive things within his life. His priorities in life included his home and family and these factors were very positive influences upon his life. hile on the surface, my life seems very different than that of McBride's, I actually have more things in common with his life than some might believe. The famous writer and musician, James McBride, tells the story of a conversation with his mother: He asks her the question, "Am I Black or hite?" She replied, "You're a human being. Educate yourself or you'll be a nobody!" McBride's mother, Ruthie Shilsky McBride Jordan, instilled within her children two values. One was respect….

Works Cited

James C. McBride." Contemporary Black Biography, Volume 35. Edited by Ashyia

Henderson. Gale Group, 2002.

McBride, James. The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother (memoir),

Riverhead Books, 1996.

Ruth McBride Jordan is the strongest figure in James McBride's memoir, The Color of Water. As a mother of twelve children, Ruth did all she could to ensure that her children grew up to be independent and self-sufficient individuals. Ruth's own family background greatly influenced the methods and attitudes with which she raised her multi-racial children. Ruth tried to teach her children the hard work ethic she learned from her parents, while rejecting her abusive and intolerant background. Because of the many hardships she was forced to endure during the course of her life, Ruth became a determined, exceptionally strong mother. She was tough but tender and loving with her children. She tried to ignore the issues of race that plagued her and her children throughout their lives. As a result, she sometimes created a chaotic environment for her many children, who grew up during the Civil Rights movement in America. Ruth….

Water Purification Natural Drinking and

"Raw water and post-treatment water are tested for bacterial, physical, and chemical standards, particularly pH, color, and turbidity. The Safe Drinking ater Act of 1974 established maximum contaminant levels, which are the national drinking water standards. These apply to any water distribution system that serves at least twenty-five units daily. Standards may vary from state to state, but they cannot be lower than those prescribed by the federal government" (Robson 2010). "astewater treatment means removing all the contaminants that are found in wastewater. This is a type of water that is composed of wastes found in industries, hospitals, homes, and other establishments that can be found in a particular community…. food scraps, soap, oil, human waste, and chemicals" ("astewater," 2010, All ater purification). In contrast to water that is rendered safe for drinking, wastewater is merely rendered safe for disposal into the environment, to ensure that it does not imbalance….

Robson, Mark G. "Water treatment." Encyclopedia of Public Health. January 24, 2010.

 http://www.answers.com/topic/water-treatment 

"Wastewater treatment." All water purification. January 24, 2010.

 http://www.allwaterpurification.com/waste-water-treatment.html

Water in the Middle East

While on one hand, the Nile gets the highest discharge from rainfall on the highlands of Ethiopia and upland plateau of East Africa, located well outside the Middle East region; on the other hand, discharge points of the other two rivers, Euphrates and Tigris, are positioned well within the Middle East region, prevailing mostly in Turkey, Syria along with Iraq. In other areas, recurrent river systems are restricted to the more northern upland areas of Iran and Turkey, in common with the coastline of Levant (Peter eaumont, Gerald H. lake, J. And Malcolm Wagstaff, 1988). The conflict in the Future It is widely believed by many experts that those who control the waters in the Middle East; control the Middle East; and those who control the Middle East; control the oil supply of the world (David M. Hummel, 1995). From the above mentioned facts it is clear that the water resources….

Anthony H. Cordesman. Peace is Not Enough: The Arab-Israeli Economic and Demographic Crises. Part Two. Population Growth, Fertility and Population Doubling Rates, Regional Trends, National Trends, and the "Youth Explosion" Center for Strategic and International Studies, 1998.

Adel Darwish. Troubled waters in rivers of blood. Water Issues. 3 December 1992. http://www.mideastnews.com/water004.html

Adel Darwish. Inadequacy of international law. Taken at http://www.mideastnews.com/WaterWars.htm

Ashok Swain. A new challenge: water scarcity in the Arab world. Arab Studies Quarterly (ASQ). January, 1998.

Holi Celebration and Color as Communication

Holi, Colors speak and people Play! Indian culture is enriched with traditions, religious ceremonies and festive celebrations. The paper is about historical and religious significance of Holi, a spring celebration which is also referred to as the 'celebration of colors'. However, the event dates back to ancient Hindu religious celebrations. In South Asia, Holi has also gained popularity among non-Hindus. It is majorly celebrated in India, Nepal and other parts of the world wherever Hindu communities reside. The event starts a night before Holi with Holika, which is the bonfire where people gather in masses to dance and sing around the fire. The very next morning Holi is celebrated by playing with colors, singing and dancing. However, there are few symbolic elements prominently observed in Holi carnival. Every single person adorns in complete white, has water gun fight, plays with colors in the shape of dry powder and drinks "Bhang."….

Albers, Josef. Interaction of Color. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1975.

Ball, Philip. Bright Earth: Art and the Invention of Color. Chicago: University of Chicago, 2001.

Della Vache, Angela and Brian Price. Color: The Film Reader. London: Routledge, 2006.

Gans, H, J. Symbolic ethnicity and symbolic religiosity: towards a comparison of ethnic and religious acculturation. 1994.

Color Symbolism and Meanings in the Great Gatsby

color in "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald. COLOR IN THE GREAT GATSBY Fitzgerald uses color elaborately in "The Great Gatsby," and it usually has some ulterior meaning, like the "green light" that appears throughout the novel. Many critics say the green light symbolizes Daisy, but it is more than that. Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter - to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther.... And one fine morning..." (Fitzgerald 212). The green light is the whole type of life they were living. Their lives did not mean much -- they were empty and phony. They lived them year after year because that is what they did in East Egg, and society was the most important thing, you were who you knew, and what you had. There are several other green….

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Simon & Schuster Trade. May 1995.

Tran, Cathy. "The Great Gatsby." CampusNut.com. 2002. http://www.campusnut.com/book.cfm?article_id=329

Ocean Water Modifies and Influences

The larger particles can influence the absorption rates of solar energy by a factor of three over particulates such as phytoplankton and minerals (Stramski and Woz'niak, 2005). This means that a small concentration of these particles can do a lot for the absorption rates of the water they are suspended in. The smaller particles can also have this effect, but their concentrations need to be proportionately higher to exact this same influence. The smaller particles are more influential as far as backscattering is concerned, and represent a massive shift in the way that scientists think about light diffusion and backscattering within the ocean. Previously, scientists thought that only the larger of these particles combined with other particulates were responsible for most of the solar radiation absorption (Bricaud, a., Morel, a. And Prieur, L., 1981). Now scientists understand that in shallow, mineral-rich waters, even a small presence of these tiniest….

Babin, Marcel, and Dariusz Stramski. (2004). "Variations in the mass-specific absorption coefficient of mineral particles suspended in water." Limnology Oceanography. 49(3), pp. 756 -- 767.

Bricaud, a., Morel, a. And Prieur, L. (1981). "Absorption by dissolved organic matter of the sea

(yellow substance) in the UV and visible domains." Limnology, Oceanography 26 (1). pp.43-53.

Dera, J., S. Sagan, and D. Stramski. (1993). "Focusing of sunlight by sea surface waves: new results from the Black Sea." Oceanologia, 34. pp. 13-25.

Dehydration Water Is Essential to

In many ways, this is also responsible for and compounded by the bad eating habits and obesity so prevalent in today's Western societies. Electrolytes work in conjunction with the water levels in the body, and is responsible for conducting electricity within the body. This is essential for the normal functioning of cells and organs. odium and potassium are both positive ions, or cations, within the body, while chloride is a negatively charged anion. odium and Chloride are found in fluids outside of cells, while potassium is found inside of cells. odium is responsible for water regulation in the body, as well as electrical signals to and from the brain. Too much or too little sodium can be fatal. Excess is discarded through urine. Inside cells, potassium regulates the heartbeat and function of muscles. A lack or excess of this electrolyte can also be fatal, as it can lead to heart….

Klotter, Jule. (2001, Aug). Physiological Effects of Dehydration: Cure Pain and Prevent Cancer. Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients. Article database: FindArticles.com.

REACT. (2007). Functions of Water in the Human Body. http://www.resultsproject.net/water_functions.html

Stoppler, Melissa Conrad. (2007). Dehydration: How to Recognize and Prevent its Effects. Medicinenet.com.  http://www.medicinenet.com/dehydration/article.htm 

Stoppler, Melissa Conrad (2006). Electrolytes. Medicinenet.com.  http://www.medicinenet.com/electrolytes/article.htm

PepsiCo organizational change caused by Aquafina water

Bottled portable water was not a significant product in the beverage industry in the US two decades ago. The industry was dominated and controlled by such giants as Groupe Danone SA’s Evian and Nestle SA’s Perrier. By 2002, the industry was worth $3.5 billion. In 1997, Pepsi made attempts to join the bottled water market. Some of the efforts included buying a spring water company and a shot at selling a brand that was sparkling. However, these efforts did not yield fruit. The management came to the conclusion that the best method to create a successful water brand was to exploit a resource that was already in existence, i.e. the water treatment equipment already at the bottling plant locations. These were being used to purify water for the soft drinks that the company produced (McKay, 2002). The then Pepsi beverage main CEO along with his team figured out that there was….

Paintings Colors and Self-Portrait Introduction

Pissarro took a special interest in his attempts at painting, emphasizing that he should 'look for the nature that suits your temperament', and in 1876 Gauguin had a landscape in the style of Pissarro accepted at the Salon. In the meantime Pissarro had introduced him to Cezanne, for whose works he conceived a great respect-so much so that the older man began to fear that he would steal his 'sensations'. All three worked together for some time at Pontoise, where Pissarro and Gauguin drew pencil sketches of each other (Cabinet des Dessins, Louvre). Gauguin settled for a while in ouen, painting every day after the bank he worked at closed. Ultimately, he returned to Paris, painting in Pont-Aven, a well-known resort for artists. X...for pic Le Christ Jaune (the Yellow Christ) (Pioch, 2002) Still Life with Three Puppies 1888 (Pioch, 2002) In "Sunny side down; Van Gogh and Gauguin," Martin Gayford (2006) asserts differences….

Bailey, Martin. (2008). Dating the raindrops: Martin Bailey reviews the final volumes in the catalogues of the two most important collections of Van Gogh's drawings. Apollo Magazine Ltd. Retrieved February 26, 2009 from HighBeam Research:

 http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-174598896.html 

Martin. (2005) "Van Gogh the fakes debate. Apollo Magazine Ltd. Retrieved February 26, 2009 from HighBeam Research:

 http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-127058183.html . Bell, Judith. (1998). Vincent treasure trove; the van Gogh Museum's van Goghs. Vincent van Gogh's works from the original collection of his brother Theo. World and I. News World Communications, Inc. Retrieved February 26, 2009 from HighBeam Research:

A Closer Look at Pesticides Understanding Water Quality Concerns

Understanding Water Quality Concerns: A Closer Look at PesticidesDefining Pesticides:The EPA describes a \\\"pesticide\\\" as a substance or combination of substances intended for (1) the prevention, elimination, repulsion, or mitigation of any pest, (2) use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant, or (3) use as a nitrogen stabilizer. Although this formal definition is relatively recent, pesticides have been integral to agricultural production worldwide for centuries and have likely played an essential role in managing insects, weeds, and diseases. For example, sulfur\\\'s use for controlling plant diseases can be traced back 4500 years to its first application in Sumeria. Mercury and arsenic salts were later introduced, and the insecticidal properties of chrysanthemum flower extracts (pyrethrum) were discovered approximately 2000 years ago. Indeed, natural substances have long been employed to help manage pests in agriculture (eeves et al., 2019).Contemporary Uses of Pesticides:Many substances utilized daily are classified as pesticides if marketed….

ReferencesReeves, W. R., McGuire, M. K., Stokes, M. And Vinci, J. L. (2019). Assessing the Safety of Pesticides in Food: How Current Regulations Protect Human Health. American Society for Nutrition, 10:80-88.Tessum CW, Paolella DA, Chambliss SE, Apte JS, Hill JD, Marshall JD. PM 2.5 polluters disproportionately and systemically affect people of color in the United States. Sci Adv. 2021;7:eabf4491.Donley, N., Bullard, R. D., Economos, J., Figueroa, I., Lee, J., Liebman, A. K., Martinez, D. N. and Shafiei, F. (2022). Pesticides and environmental injustice in the USA: root causes, current regulatory reinforcement and a path forward. BMC Public Health, 22:708 Policy Department for External Relations (PDER). (2021). The use of pesticides in developing countries and their impact on health and the right to food. Directorate General for External Policies of the Union. PE 653.622 - January 2021.Sapbamrer R, Kitro A, Panumasvivat J and Assavanopakun P (2023) Important role of the government in reducing pesticide use and risk sustainably in Thailand: Current situation and recommendations. Front. Public Health 11:1141142.Sharma A, Kumar V, Shahzad B, Tanveer M, Sidhu GPS, Handa N, et al. Worldwide pesticide usage and its impacts on ecosystem. SN Appl Sci. (2019) 1:1446.

Dehydration Water Is More Important

" (Klotter, 2001) Additionally, salt functions as an extraction agent for excess acidity in the body which are in the form of "hydrogen ions, and oxidants from ATP production" from cells. (Klotter, 2001; paraphrased) Morris (2008) states that in order for the body to become adequately hydrated the individual should replace fluid lost by perspiration when exercising and should always drink water prior to consuming food. The ideal water intake for someone who exercises is stated to be as follows: "Drink 17 ounces of water 2 hours before the activity and weigh yourself right before you exercise. While you exercise, drink 6-10 oz. every 15-20 minutes." (Morris, 2008) IV. SIGNS of DEHYDRATION When the body is in a state of severe lack of water the body becomes dehydrated and this results in the "cell membranes become[ing] less permeable, hampering the flow of hormones and nutrients into the cell and preventing waste products….

Body Effects (2008) Alcohol. Online available at  http://www.alcohol.org.nz/BodyEffect.aspx?PostingID=671 

Klotter, Jule (2001) Physiological Effects of Dehydration: Cure Pain and Prevent Cancer. A review of a videotaped lecture of F. Batmanghelidj. Cure Pain & Prevent Cancer. 2001. Online available at  http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_2001_August/ai_78177228 

Morris, Whitney (2008) Effects of Dehydration on Performance. Triathelete Magazine Online available at  http://www.triathletemag.com/Departments/Training/2007/Effects_of_dehydration_on_performance.htm 

Weatherwax, Dawn (nd) NSCA's Performance Training Journal Vol. 4 No. 6. Online available at www.nsca-lift.org/perform.

What I Like About Alice Waters as a Chef and Person

Alice Waters: Bringing Fresh Food to California Before Alice Waters came along, California cuisine was a barren landscape of fast food joints and inauthentic diners. No one catered to the local produce market or used local growers to provide that distinctive, fresh and "local" flavor and color that both connoisseurs and ordinary diners could enjoy. Waters was determined to change all of that. By focusing on seasonal foods and authentic pairings, Waters created a naturalistic cuisine that brought real food styles from France (the Old World) back to America (the New World) where they had been lost in the fast food market of recent years. Starting out with little more than instinct and what she had learned from her French exposure, Waters' restaurant grew into a world-renowned phenomenon and kicked off a veritable "revolution" in the food industry. Alice Waters is a great inspiration for me because she has become not just….

CBSNews. (2009). Alice Waters' Crusade for Better Food. CBS. Retrieved from  http://www.cbsnews.com/news/alice-waters-crusade-for-better-food/ 

McNamme, T. (2007). Alice Waters and Chez Panisse. NY: Penguin.

Waters, A., Littschwager, D., Duane, D. (2008). Edible Education: a Universal Idea.

NY: Chronicle Books.

Opposite to Ruth, James' experience with racial and religious discrimination is somewhat different because the era changed. When James was in his early adulthood, the perspectives started to change…

Color of Water is an autobiographical account of the lives of the author, James McBride and his white mother uth, and explores issues of racial prejudice and religious…

Family and Marriage

Color of ater James McBride was born of an interracial marriage between a white, Jewish mother and a Black, Christian father. Some of his negative life experiences included racism,…

Ruth McBride Jordan is the strongest figure in James McBride's memoir, The Color of Water. As a mother of twelve children, Ruth did all she could to ensure that…

Transportation - Environmental Issues

"Raw water and post-treatment water are tested for bacterial, physical, and chemical standards, particularly pH, color, and turbidity. The Safe Drinking ater Act of 1974 established maximum contaminant…

History - Israel

While on one hand, the Nile gets the highest discharge from rainfall on the highlands of Ethiopia and upland plateau of East Africa, located well outside the Middle…

Research Paper

History - Asian

Holi, Colors speak and people Play! Indian culture is enriched with traditions, religious ceremonies and festive celebrations. The paper is about historical and religious significance of Holi, a spring…

color in "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald. COLOR IN THE GREAT GATSBY Fitzgerald uses color elaborately in "The Great Gatsby," and it usually has some ulterior meaning, like…

Business - Miscellaneous

The larger particles can influence the absorption rates of solar energy by a factor of three over particulates such as phytoplankton and minerals (Stramski and Woz'niak, 2005). This…

In many ways, this is also responsible for and compounded by the bad eating habits and obesity so prevalent in today's Western societies. Electrolytes work in conjunction with the…

Bottled portable water was not a significant product in the beverage industry in the US two decades ago. The industry was dominated and controlled by such giants as Groupe…

Research Proposal

Art  (general)

Pissarro took a special interest in his attempts at painting, emphasizing that he should 'look for the nature that suits your temperament', and in 1876 Gauguin had a…

Understanding Water Quality Concerns: A Closer Look at PesticidesDefining Pesticides:The EPA describes a \\\"pesticide\\\" as a substance or combination of substances intended for (1) the prevention, elimination, repulsion, or…

" (Klotter, 2001) Additionally, salt functions as an extraction agent for excess acidity in the body which are in the form of "hydrogen ions, and oxidants from ATP production"…

Alice Waters: Bringing Fresh Food to California Before Alice Waters came along, California cuisine was a barren landscape of fast food joints and inauthentic diners. No one catered to the…

Color of Water Essay

The Importance Of Characters In The Color Of Water

fifty years.” - Ruth McBride Jordan. Ruth McBride Jordan is a strong Polish Jewish woman with 12 children who firmly believes in work, school, and religion. Ruth undergoes many different changes within both herself and her family throughout The Color of Water, causing her to change her name 3 times in a way of reviving herself. These 3 names are significant with respect to her identity and her life because they represent a time in her life where she tried to change in order to make her it better. These

The Color of Water

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

Color of Water

The Color of Water: A Black Man 's Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride Discussion questions Discuss Ruth McBride 's refusal to reveal her past and how that influenced her children 's sense of themselves and their place in the world. Why was she reluctant to tell her children about her background? How has your knowledge—or lack thereof—about your family background shaped your own self-image? Do you get a sense of life under the old Jewish traditions? How does that compare to the

Color Of Water

be arranged. Everyone has their own thoughts when it comes to this decision. An author may not necessarily pick the best method, but if they feel it is, they will work their magic to ensure the plot is powerful and enticing. In the memoir, The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother, author James McBride uses many different structural strategies throughout his piece. He relates previous chapters with later ones to vividly show the bend between the past and present of his mother’s

The Color Of Water Analysis

Color of God The Color of Water is the story of about a young black man, James McBride, finding himself through his mother, Ruth McBride. He tells his story, focusing on his childhood in New York City. His white mother also tells her story, where she was raised a Jew. She married a black man and had eight children, including James. Before James was even born, her husband died. She remarried to another black man and had four more children, all black. While growing, James and his siblings look for

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,

Color Of Water Identity

The story skips James’ college years and jumps to when he’s 24 years old. He was a reporter for the Boston Globe, living a nice and successful life, but still was confused about his racial identity. After years of trying to get information about his mother’s past out of her, he finally learned of her where she grew up; Suffolk. He went to a house near where the store used to be and found Eddie Thompson, who told James what he knew about the Shilsky family. In the middle of the night, James awoke

Water Color Tattoos

All you want to know about the Best Water Color Tattoos Tattoos have evolved to be a fashionable body art that people love to have as a medium to express that deepest feelings. They are created in a wide range of styles and shapes based on client perspective so that it can turn out to be their priced possession. With its growing popularity, there are several trends that have made their way and the best water color tattoos is amongst them. What Are Water Color Tattoos? Watercolor or painterly tattoos

Themes In The Color Of Water

Black son, white mother. Living in Brooklyn, which is a predominantly black neighborhood, during the 1950’s. Just by analyzing the two main 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

title “The Color of Water” is the best title for the book because It shows how just like the water that’s a stream that continues on and on in spite of what is going on around it. James keeps on moving forward by going on with his life even though he’s facing so many challenges or obstacles that he’s experiencing in his life. There are two meanings that are behind the title “The Color of Water” such as a literal meaning and figurative meaning. In the text it says: “God is the color of water

Popular Topics

• Colosseum Essay
• Columbian Exchange Essay
• Columbine High School Essay
• Coming of Age Essay
• Commentary Essay
• Common Ground Essay Topics
• Common Law Essay
• Communication Essay
• Communication Problems Essay
• Communication Skills Essay

Summary: The Color Of Water By James Mcbride

Lyla Imes Ms. Monroe Honors Composition I 9 April 2024 title As world famous runner, former navy seal and author, David Goggins, said “You have to be willing to go to war with yourself and create a whole new identity”. In the novel, The Color of Water by James McBride, tells the childhood experiences of James McBride and his mother, Ruth. They both went through very difficult childhoods and learned how to deal and find themselves through their challenging situations. When determining how James McBride developed his identity, consider how he acted in situations including, his race, education, and throughout his relationships. Throughout the novel, James has trouble accepting his identity through his race. James reflects that he was the “son of a black man and a white woman” …show more content…

James was struggling to understand who he even was, at one point he even said, “All of my siblings, myself included, had some sort of color confusion at one time or another.”(52). This shows how not only James, but also his siblings struggle with their identity. James began to question his racial background and how to accept himself. Because James was living in “two worlds”, it made it difficult for him to be accepted in either world, and while James’ siblings also felt the same pressure of living in “two worlds” they chose to embrace the “black power” they held. However, James struggled to follow the lead of his siblings in embracing their race and this caused him to continue to question his place in not only his family, but also society. James navigates through finding his identity through his experiences, through his education. James’ school was a school that was primarily for white students. James was one of the only interracial students which resulted in James being very self conscious and insecure of his presence in his

More about Summary: The Color Of Water By James Mcbride