The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother
A memoir in which the author alternates between his mother Ruth’s life as a white woman and his own upbringing as a Black man. Through religion, poverty, migration, and family love and conflict, it tenderly and painfully explores the complexity of race and identity.
Work Information
A memoir that alternates between a mother’s life and the author’s own coming-of-age to trace race and family.
By moving between testimony about his mother’s past and his own memories, McBride creates a family history where Black, Jewish, and immigrant experiences overlap.
Book Information
- Publisher
- Penguin Publishing Group
- Published
- 2006-02-07
- Pages
- 336 pages
- Language
- 英語
- Size
- 13.06 x 1.8 x 20.32 cm
- ISBN-13
- 9781594481925
- ISBN-10
- 9781594481925
- Price
- 2984 JPY
- Category
- 洋書/Politics & Social Sciences/Social Sciences/Specific Demographics/African American Studies
From the bestselling author of Deacon King Kong and the National Book Award-winning The Good Lord Bird : The modern classic that spent more than two years on The New York Times bestseller list and that Oprah.com calls one of the best memoirs of a generation. Who is Ruth McBride Jordan? A self-declared "light-skinned" woman evasive about her ethnicity, yet steadfast in her love for her twelve black children. James McBride, journalist, musician, and son, explores his mother's past, as well as his own upbringing and heritage, in a poignant and powerful debut, The Color Of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother . The son of a black minister and a woman who would not admit she was white, James McBride grew up in "orchestrated chaos" with his eleven siblings in the poor, all-black projects of Red Hook, Brooklyn. "Mommy," a fiercely protective woman with "dark eyes full of pep and fire," herded her brood to Manhattan's free cultural events, sent them off on buses to the best (and mainly Jewish) schools, demanded good grades, and commanded respect. As a young man, McBride saw his mother as a source of embarrassment, worry, and confusion—and reached thirty before he began to discover the truth about her early life and long-buried pain. In The Color of Water , McBride retraces his mother's footsteps and, through her searing and spirited voice, recreates her remarkable story. The daughter of a failed itinerant Orthodox rabbi, she was born Rachel Shilsky (actually Ruchel Dwara Zylska) in Poland on April 1, 1921. Fleeing pogroms, her family emigrated to America and ultimately settled in Suffolk, Virginia, a small town where anti-Semitism and racial tensions ran high. With candor and immediacy, Ruth describes her parents' loveless marriage; her fragile, handicapped mother; her cruel, sexually-abusive father; and the rest of the family and life she abandoned. At seventeen, after fleeing Virginia and settling in New York City, Ruth married a black minister and founded the all- black New Brown Memorial Baptist Church in her Red Hook living room. "God is the color of water," Ruth McBride taught her children, firmly convinced that life's blessings and life's values transcend race. Twice widowed, and continually confronting overwhelming adversity and racism, Ruth's determination, drive and discipline saw her dozen children through college—and most through graduate school. At age 65, she herself received a degree in social work from Temple University. Interspersed throughout his mother's compelling narrative, McBride shares candid recollections of his own experiences as a mixed-race child of poverty, his flirtations with drugs and violence, and his eventual self- realization and professional success. The Color of Water touches readers of all colors as a vivid portrait of growing up, a haunting meditation on race and identity, and a lyrical valentine to a mother from her son.
James McBride is an accomplished musician and author of the National Book Award-winning The Good Lord Bird , the #1 bestselling American classic The Color of Water , and the bestsellers Song Yet Sung and Miracle at St. Anna . He is also the author of Kill 'Em and Leave , a James Brown biography. A recipient of the National Humanities Medal in 2016, McBride is a Distinguished Writer in Residence at New York University.
Reviews
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A great tribute
When I first picked up 'The Color of Water', I never thought it would be such a moving story. In fact it is one of the most gripping and inspirational books I have read. I adore it. I read it over two years ago and still remember its first impact. The book is a combination of two profound stories coming from a white mother and her black son. It is actually about an Orthodox Jewish girl who emigrated from Poland with her family to Virginia and escapes the life she had ever known to New York, where she ended up marrying a black man and living in the black community. In all, she raises her twelve children from her two marriages and despite the odds against her and children successfully managed her family into a success story. Flawed but genuine, strong and committed she served as an inspiration for people in imperfect circumstances. The author's voice is strong, captivating and authentic. His intelligent mind served as a perfect repertoire to make this book the compelling read that it is today. I read it again when I had finished, so as to get the complete feel of the book . This story is sweet, intimate and more. It can make you cry and still be strong. I strongly recommend this beautiful work. Also recommended: THE UNION MOUJIK, DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, DREAMS FROM MY FATHER, EFURU
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A beautifully written work
A beuatifully written book about a mulatto son and her white mother, The Color of water stands out as one of the most inspiring books I have ever read. It shows how through courage, a sense of direction, unity and sacrifice, a person can achieve sucess in present day America. Also recommended: THE USURPER AND OTHER STORIES, DREAMS FROM MY FATHER,THE GODFATHER, DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE
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ルーツをめぐる家族の痛みと愛を感じた
作者は、jewish-african-americanで、母親は、ユダヤ人。ユダヤ教徒でユダヤ社会から逃げ出し、ブルックリンへ。そして、クリスチャンとなる。金銭的には大変だったが子供に恵まれ、子供の教育と信仰生活に力を注いだ。母親は自分がバージニア州のノーフォークでユダヤ人として暮らしていた頃のことを話そうとしないが、作者が自分のルーツを探しはじめたことから、母親の過去の秘密が暴かれていく。ユダヤ人としての差別、黒人としての差別、ユダヤ教とキリスト教の違い。文化や宗教、そして人種的な差別。いろんなものが入り混じっている中、母親は、ただただ、すべてを封印してキリスト者としての道を歩んでいく。アメリカの裏の部分がよく見えました。母親の悲しみや痛みが痛切に感じられましたが、彼女は真の勝利者なのだという見解を得ました。自分の価値観をしっかり持てる人間は、結局はどのような状況でも強く生きていけるのではないかという教訓になりました。
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あらゆる人種や宗教観に興味のある人へ
日本で生まれ、日本で平凡に育った私がアメリカ生活中に最も考えさせられた課題は自分の人種、IDENTITY、家族のルーツについてでした。 これは筆者とその母のの自己発見、自己実現の話であり、深い愛と人間の強さを伝える話です。 何度も胸が詰まってしばらく本を閉じました。私の国の皆さんに敢えて読んでほしい。
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A Man Gives Life To His Mother
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.
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One of my top ever reads.
I was enthralled with the complex weave of the book. A master storyteller delivers a delight. Loved it. Thanks James. Is there more to say really....no...except buy a copy.
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Fascinating memoir.
Brilliant writing about the author's extraordinary mother.
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Product as promised
Top quality binding and print. Reading
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Fascinating
Fascinating. An incredible woman and an incredible homage