The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother

Fantastic read and a true story. This book, and Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, inspired me to be a lifelong James McBride fan. Powerful, intimate, and truthful, McBride reveals the lives of black and white people in a sympathetic yet realistic manner. He’s a writer I always recommend.

I don’t remember if this book was mentioned in a book I recently read or if somebody mentioned it in the Goodreads Society Facebook page, but whatever it was, I am very glad I threw this book in my Amazon Wishlist, and read it, because it was an amazing read. James McBride is a black man, his mother is a white Jewish woman, and his father was also a black man. Back to his mother for a minute, her father was an Orthodox Rabbi. His marriage to wife was arranged, and the family kept Kosher. James’s mother eventually left the Jewish side at age 19 and turned to God and Christianity and fell in love with a black man. Now, let me tell this happened in 1940. She had 12 children; 8 from first husband and 4 from second husband; both were black. Despite them not having a lot of money, all the children have been very successful and have college educations; some of graduate degrees and others even have PHD’s. James’s mother didn’t care about what people thought of her as she lugged her kids around. She and her first husband founded a Church in Brooklyn. The story itself is presented wonderfully, as James writes about his mother’s life and his life.

I’m not a huge reader, normally it would take me over a month to finish any book. My usual feeling of trekking through the pages of a book was not, yes I said not, found in The Color of Water by James Mcbride. This book is universally relatable on so many different levels. Within most of the chapters there was something that emotionally impacted me on a certain level. This book is a roller coaster, it has it’s ups and it has it’s downs . This is why I decided to give my book 4 stars. James Mcbride is one of twelve mixed race siblings, with a white, single, jewish mom, during the 1940’s. During that time, there was a lot of racial discrimination, along with the holocaust occurring. Throughout his memoir James not only shares his life story, but Ruth's (his mom) as well. This makes for an even more impactful story because we are seeing how Ruth grew up, and learning about the different events that has happened in her life. Knowing her background while reading the story, allows us to understand the way she has raised her children and how she handles different situations with life and/or her kids. I’m not a mom, but I know raising 12 kids is an arduous effort. Ruth wasn’t able to keep everyone in check all the time, no matter how hard she tried. When James step-father passed away, James started to head down a bad path. His grades slipped like a man on ice, along with his behavior. He started getting involved with drugs and petty theft. When Ruth learned that James grades were slipping, and that he also was skipping school she sent him to his sister’s house down in Louisville, Kentucky. James was a mad as a bull. James ended up spending 3 consecutive summers down there. While he was down there he met a man named Chicken Man. Chicken Man played a very influential part in James life, they first met on the “corner” where a lot of the druggies or drunks could be found. While James and Chicken Man were standing on the corner, he explained to James that “everybody on this corner is smart, you ain’t no smarter than anybody here”(Mcbride 150). The Chicken Man shakes James belief that his knowledge makes him smarter than someone else. The Chicken Man shows James that all people are smart, it’s just what they do with their knowledge individualizes them. This part of the book impacted me the me the most because i’ve started to head down bad paths in life simply because I didn’t know how to deal with the pain or emotion. During these times, my two coaches, along with my parents, are the ones that helped get me back on track. They showed me what could happen if I continued to head down the path I was on. Everyone should have a role model in their life, for James that was chicken man or his mom, and for me; my parents, along with my coaches. This book changed my view on life and how no matter how hard times get you still need to keep going. Life is a mountain that we must continue to climb, no matter how many times we slip.It covered racial discrimination, how you can go from a bad situation and turn things around, how far religion can take you, and what you can accomplish with perseverance. James mom came from a dad who had molested her, but she didn’t let that hold her back. She went on to be married 2 times, and have 12 mixed race kids during the 1940s. She kept most of the kids in check ¾ of the time, and was able to provide for them all. Ruth, “wipes her memory instantly and with purpose” (271).She allows the bad to roll right off because she knows she has responsibilities to her kids. She is formidable, she is knowledgeable, she is unexpendable. The way Ruth raised her kids, and dealt with her own life is impeccable. Thank you James Mcbride for giving me a new perspective on how I few things, along with having a new genre of books to read.

The authors (Ruth and James) tell their amazing stories of childhood in an interesting back and forth. It felt as though James was searching for his truth while all the while he was living it. James mother was struggling with her reality and her saviors turned out to be the people her father used to gain his worldly wealth and the family he abused (his wife & daughters). Ruth's survival was gained from the strength in those around her and her instincts to seek kindness and love. I have read one other McBride book and now I am destined to read them all. I look forward to reading his stories which no doubt have been influenced by his mother.

This book was mesmerizing and I honestly couldn’t put it down. The life of Ruth is nothing short of amazing. 12 children; she never lost herself through all of that. Thank you James McBride for sharing your mother’s life with the rest of us.

I read many different types of books – history, psychology, mythology, philosophy, and novels, literature from all periods of time. When I read a novel, I ask for two things – that the book be written well and that it have heart. If it makes me cry, all the better. James McBride certainly writes well. And he has heart, lots of heart. This book made me cry and I couldn’t stop reading it. After this experience, I’m going to read as many of his other books as I can. Wonderful author. And clearly, I also read memoirs. This memoir read like a novel at times. It was beautiful and honest and sad and happy. After I posted my review, it hit me that this was NOT a novel. But now I'm committed to reading his novels as well. Sigh. It's a good book, period!

This is a marvellous book told by a son in praise and honour of his mother - at the same time honouring his mother’s mother, both his fathers and all other 11 of his siblings. It deals with issues of race and faith - of indomitable will and courage - and of triumph.

Fascinating. An incredible woman and an incredible homage

A must read for all!

Excellent!

It was an interesting insight into a world I have never known - a white Jewish woman falling in love and marrying two Christian black men, her life through the racially tough period in the US - bringing up 12 talented and educated black children without giving any of her children an I sight into her own and her family's history. James' long efforts to get his mother to open up to him about her past in order for him to know himself was really fascinating.