The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother Review
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. James McBride tells us the touching story of his white Jewish mother, black preacher father and how life was for himself and his eleven siblings growing up in a housing project of Brooklyn. When you read how he pulled his mother's history from her, bit by reluctant bit, you're heart will soar at her determined spirit to raise her kids alone. Her struggles as a Jewish girl coming of age in Virginia, her life as a lone white woman in a black neighborhood with 12 children of color, being widowed not once, but twice will have you rooted to the pages of this book to see how she coped and survived. All of her children went on to finish college and pursue professional careers. She went to college herself and received her degree in her sixties. This is a book of what love and a determined spirit can accomplish. I'd like to share a couple of passages in the book that stood out from all the rest; these words really touched me and made me think we should ALL teach and preach this truth:
James asks his mother, "Am I black or white?"
"You're a human being," she snapped.
...
"What's a spirit?"
"A spirit's a spirit."
"What color is God's spirit?"
"...God is the color of water..."
I wish we would all remember this.
This is a book I highly recommend. You will broaden your horizons with this book, and learn.
The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother Overview
A young African-American man describes growing up in an all-black Brooklyn housing project, one of twelve children of a white mother and black father, and discusses his mother's contributions to his life and coming to terms with his confusion over his own identity. 75,000 first printing. ,000 ad/promo. Tour.
The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother Specifications
Order this book ... and please don't be put off by its pallid subtitle, A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother, which doesn't begin to do justice to the utterly unique and moving story contained within. The Color of Water tells the remarkable story of Ruth McBride Jordan, the two good men she married, and the 12 good children she raised. Jordan, born Rachel Shilsky, a Polish Jew, immigrated to America soon after birth; as an adult she moved to New York City, leaving her family and faith behind in Virginia. Jordan met and married a black man, making her isolation even more profound. The book is a success story, a testament to one woman's true heart, solid values, and indomitable will. Ruth Jordan battled not only racism but also poverty to raise her children and, despite being sorely tested, never wavered. In telling her story--along with her son's--The Color of Water addresses racial identity with compassion, insight, and realism. It is, in a word, inspiring, and you will finish it with unalloyed admiration for a flawed but remarkable individual. And, perhaps, a little more faith in us all.
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Customer Reviews
the color of water.... james mcbride - James Mitchell - toronto ontario
a well written true story of an american life that is full of inspiration and challenges. i enjoyed every chapter and was especially motivated to see how this story ended. a victory for hardwork, dedication, values and overcoming a past that could have caused others to simply give up. loved it... jim mitchell
Sooooo slooooow - -
Ugh. This book had a good message but I had to trudge through it. I'm actually surprised I finished it. The best part of the book was the last page because I knew it was almost over! Overall, if you like biographies about a person you've never heard of that matters nothing to you, you'll love it. :(
Puts alot of things into perspective - Ayla87 - Connecticut
You hear alot of people complain about how hard thier lives are, especially now in these economic times. You especially hear alot of people complain about how hard it is to raise children these days, with the rise in college tuition and cost of living.
Then you read "The Color of Water" and the story of Ruth McBride; A white jewish woman who raised 12(!) inter-racial children in inner city NYC during the civil rights movement. Born in eastern europe, she immigrated to the US as a toddler just before WWII. She grew up in the segregated south, where her father abused her. Then she ran away to NYC where she married her husbands and raised her children.
Not only did she raise her children largely on her own (Both her husbands died) but they all stayed out of trouble and all but one completed a college degree. Two even became doctors.
If Ruth McBride can suffer and survive through all of that, then people today can manage thier own affairs, including thier two or three children.
The Color of Water - Kathleen S. Vaccaro -
Thank you! This book arived timely & in great shape.
Kathleen S Vaccaro
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Sep 22, 2010 16:30:07
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