Book Details
- Title: The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother
- Author: James McBride
- ISBN: 978-1594481925
- Genres: Memoir, Biography, African American Literature, Family, Identity
- Published Year: 1995
Introduction
James McBride’s The Color of Water is a poignant memoir that explores the life of his mother, Ruth McBride Jordan, a white Jewish woman who raised twelve Black children in New York City. Through alternating narratives between James and Ruth, the memoir weaves together her extraordinary life story with McBride’s own journey toward self-discovery. The book tackles themes of racial identity, religious faith, and resilience, illustrating how McBride reconciles his mixed heritage and how his mother’s strong will and values shaped his life and the lives of his siblings.
Summary of Main Themes and Structure
The Dual Narrative Structure
The memoir alternates between two perspectives: Ruth’s voice, recounting her life from childhood to adulthood, and James’s voice, describing his experiences growing up as one of her children. This structure reveals both the mother’s past and the son’s present, helping readers understand how her history influenced his identity.
- Ruth’s Perspective: Ruth’s chapters are told in her voice, sharing her upbringing as a Jewish immigrant in the segregated South, her challenging relationship with her family, her conversion to Christianity, and her eventual marriage to a Black man.
- James’s Perspective: Through James’s chapters, readers see his experiences growing up in New York, his confusion and questions about his identity, and the impact of his mother’s values on his development.
"I asked her if I was Black or White. She said, 'You’re a human being. Educate yourself or you’ll be a nobody!'" - James McBride
Ruth’s Life Story
Childhood and Family Background
Ruth, born as Rachel Shilsky, was the daughter of an Orthodox Jewish rabbi in Poland. Her family immigrated to America, settling in Suffolk, Virginia, where her father opened a grocery store. Ruth’s childhood was marked by strict religious practices, emotional abuse, and racism in the segregated South.
- A Difficult Relationship with Her Father: Ruth’s father was a strict, controlling man who subjected her to physical and emotional abuse, contributing to her feelings of isolation and resentment.
- Escaping the South: Fleeing from both her father’s oppression and the racial prejudices she witnessed, Ruth eventually moved to New York City, severing ties with her Jewish roots and family.
"My father did nothing but sell food and beat me." - Ruth McBride
Marriage and Faith
Ruth met and married Andrew McBride, a Black man and a Christian minister. The couple opened a Baptist church and built a life in New York City, where they raised their children in a household founded on faith and education.
- Christianity and Transformation: Embracing Christianity was a significant turning point for Ruth, allowing her to find community, purpose, and a new identity.
- Family Life and Loss: After Andrew’s death, Ruth remarried another Black man, Hunter Jordan, who became a beloved stepfather to James and his siblings. His eventual death left Ruth a widow for the second time, forcing her to rely on her inner strength and values to raise her children alone.
"God is the color of water. Water doesn’t have a color." - Ruth McBride
Education and Sacrifice
Despite economic challenges, Ruth was determined to prioritize her children’s education. She insisted on academic excellence, believing that education was the key to a better life, especially for her Black children in a world marred by racial prejudice.
- Academic Expectations: Ruth pushed each child to succeed academically, often sending them to the best schools she could find, regardless of their location or cost.
- Resilience and Hard Work: Ruth worked tirelessly to support her family, holding various jobs and sacrificing her own needs to ensure her children had opportunities she never did.
"My mother was the smartest person I knew, and she pushed all of us toward greatness." - James McBride
James’s Search for Identity
Growing Up with Racial Confusion
Growing up as one of twelve biracial children, James experienced identity struggles as he tried to understand his place in the world. He wrestled with questions about race, belonging, and heritage, often feeling torn between his Black and Jewish identities.
- Experiences of Racism: As a biracial child, James faced racial discrimination and prejudice from both Black and White communities, which fueled his insecurities and identity struggles.
- Curiosity About His Mother’s Past: For much of his youth, James was puzzled by his mother’s secretive nature regarding her background, fueling a sense of curiosity and frustration.
"I was a boy who knew nothing of who he was." - James McBride
Self-Destructive Behavior and Realization
During his adolescence, James struggled with academic performance, engaging in rebellious behavior, and questioning his self-worth. This phase reflected his internal conflict and search for identity.
- Turning Point: James's life changed after he began to recognize the strength of his mother’s character and understood her sacrifices for him and his siblings.
- Journey of Reconciliation: As he matured, James embarked on a journey of self-acceptance, realizing that his heritage, shaped by his mother’s resilience, was an asset rather than a burden.
"Her contradictions were my contradictions, and they created an inner turmoil that made me who I am." - James McBride
Themes and Symbolism
The Theme of Racial and Religious Identity
The Color of Water explores how Ruth and James navigate issues of race, religion, and personal identity. Ruth’s journey from Judaism to Christianity and James’s experience as a biracial man illustrate the complexities of self-definition and acceptance.
- Religion as Identity and Transformation: Ruth’s embrace of Christianity allowed her to break free from the oppressive aspects of her past, while her Jewish background remained a hidden but influential part of her life.
- Mixed-Race Identity: James’s internal struggle with his biracial heritage reflects broader societal challenges of race and identity, highlighting the intersection of Black and Jewish identities.
Resilience and Family Values
The strength and resilience Ruth instilled in her children are central to the memoir. Her unyielding commitment to faith, family, and education shapes the lives of her children, helping them overcome obstacles and achieve success.
- Sacrifice and Perseverance: Ruth’s sacrifices for her children, including her emotional and physical struggles, reflect her resilience and determination to ensure they have better lives.
- Love and Belonging: Despite her struggles, Ruth maintained a deep, unconditional love for her children, showing them acceptance and pride in their identities.
"We are all individuals. You have to learn who you are for yourself." - Ruth McBride
The Color of Water as a Symbol
The book’s title, The Color of Water, symbolizes Ruth’s understanding of God and humanity beyond race or color. She tells James that God is "the color of water," emphasizing a universal, colorless entity, transcending racial distinctions.
- Transcending Racial Boundaries: The phrase suggests the fluidity of identity and spirituality, as well as the idea that race should not define one’s value or humanity.
- A Mother’s Legacy: This notion becomes a guiding principle for James, who learns to see beyond racial divisions and appreciate his mother’s boundless love.
"She was my mother, my rescuer, and my defender, and race meant nothing to her." - James McBride
Conclusion
The Color of Water by James McBride is a profound exploration of racial identity, resilience, and family legacy. By sharing his mother’s story, McBride pays tribute to Ruth’s strength, faith, and love, celebrating her remarkable life journey and the values she instilled in her children. Ruth’s resilience and dedication to her family underscore the powerful impact of parental love and sacrifice, as well as the enduring strength of cultural heritage and identity. Through this memoir, McBride ultimately reconciles with his dual heritage, finding pride in the unique identity his mother’s courage and determination enabled him to embrace.
One-Sentence Summary
The Color of Water by James McBride is a heartfelt tribute to a mother’s strength and a moving exploration of race, identity, and faith, celebrating the unique legacy of love and resilience she left for her family.