Assignment Writing Service http://HelpWriting.net/Color-Of-Water 👈

1. 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 Chinese way of life in Girl in Translation? As a child and teenager Rachel (Ruth's Jewish
name) is intensely lonely, but she does connect with one friend in high school. How does that relationship influence her? Why did Rachel feel she had
...show more content...
Would the world be better off if everyone was the same? Is it a benefit or burden to be mixed race? What factors might help break racial barriers?
What exacerbates them? Do you think there will ever be a time that is colorblind? Is such a thing desirable? Have you ever felt like a minority?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this status? Do you think it would be possible to achieve what Ruth McBride Jordan achieved in today
's society? About the author Born in 1957, James McBride is a journalist and musician. In addition to his bestselling memoir The Color of Water, he has
published the novel Miracle at St. Anna (2002) drawing on the history of the overwhelmingly African American 92nd Infantry Division in the Italian
campaign of World War II from mid
–1944 to April 1945. The book was adapted into a movie of the same name, directed by Spike Lee (2008). In 2005,
he published the first volume of The Process, a CD–based documentary about life as lived by low–profile jazz musicians. His novel Song Yet Sung
features the notorious criminal Patty Cannon as a villain in his novel. He is currently a Distinguished Writer–in–Residence at New York University. He
plays tenor saxophone with the Rock Bottom Remainders, a rock band made up of writers including Amy Tan, Mitch Albom, Stephen King, Dave
Barry, and Ridley Pearson, and has written songs for Anita Baker, Grover Washington
Get more content on HelpWriting.net

2. Essay on The Color of Water
At the beginning of The Color of Water, James McBride's mother Ruth goes on to introduce particular aspects about her upbringing. She mentions
how she grew up in an Orthodox Jewish family and begins to describe both her parents. Ruth's father was a very cold and hard individual who didn't
care too much for his children's overall well–being, while her mother was very sweet and kind in nature. She also goes on to talk about how her family
was originally from Poland but decided to move to the United States from fear of oppression from the Russian government. Along with outside forces
that proved to be a problem for Ruth's family were similarities in oppressive behaviors in their family as well. Since Ruth's family were Orthodox Jews,
...show more content...
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. The book begins talks about other conflicts that arose with James and Ruth. James took a downward spiral
during his teenage years,
Get more content on HelpWriting.net

3. 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 environment. The book uncovers how the main character Ruth, dealt with her negative
memories of her past experience and how she was able to become a strong individual. In addition, in a Time magazine article "Intermarried..with
Children," by Jill...show more content...
James McBride's search for his racial identity intensified during adolescence. While his older siblings were earning college degrees, McBride out of
all his siblings rebelled the most. He ended up on a street corner, hanging out with punks and stealing. His mother sent him to his sister, Jackie's house.
James was hanging out with people who had nothing better to do with their time While In their company, something finally clicked and he realized the
street corner was a dead end. James suffered while searching for his identity. During his adolescence, he went through a period of uncertainty and
anxiety it turned self–destructive. Although Ruth dealt with her negative memories of her past experience, she overcame it and was able to become
a strong individual. Ruth believed that her own children should experience more freedom that she did. However, "she accorded with her parents'
belief in the value of hard work, which she passed on to her children by reinforcement and example." (98) She encouraged her children to embrace
discipline and diligence from a young age. When James realized this about this mother he decided to approach his identity issue another way. James
returned to high school, went on to college, and became a journalist. In the Social Science Quarterly
Get more content on HelpWriting.net

4. Essay about The Color of Water
The Color of Water
Introductory Note
1. What framework does the author give the story? * The author gives the story from two different perspectives one from the mother's perspective,
Ruth, and the other from the son's perspective, James. 2. What is the ethnic background of the author? * The ethnic background of the author is
Caucasian and African–American.
Chapter 1: Dead
1. Why is this chapter written in italics? * This chapter was written in Italics because it was written from a different point of view which was Ruth's
perspective who talks about her past as a child. 2. Why is the mother reluctant to talk about her family? * Ruth is reluctant to talk about her family
because she felt that was...show more content...
This was a reward to James because he never had the opportunity to be with his mother alone since she always occupied with something. 10. What
does the author notice about his mother's appearance, and what advice does she give him when he asks her about different looks? * James notices
that his mother's skin color than his friends' mothers' skin color are different, so Ruth tells him "Who cares about your friends' mothers' skin color?
Just educate your mind." 11. What effect does this advice have on the author when Mommy is not at the bus stop one day? * This advice makes
James as a child not to talk to ANYONE when his mom is late at the bus stop one day.
Chapter 3: Kosher
1. What piece of paper did the author's mother carry for twenty years, and why did she carry it? * Ruth carried a legal paper that says the date when
she arrived in America. She carried it everywhere because she didn't want to be thrown out if she was questioned. 2. Where did the author's mother
first live in America? * Ruth first lived on 115th street and St. Nicholas in Manhattan with her grandmother, Bubeh. 3. What does the author's mother
say about Bubeh's wig? * Ruth says her grandmother, Bubeh, was bald under her wig, or Shaytl, the religious custom. 4. How does Mommy describe
the kosher rituals of her grandparents? * Ruth described the kosher rituals of her grandparents as a

5. Get more content on HelpWriting.net