James McBride is the son of Ruth McBride,and he tells the story of how he struggled to find out his racial identity through his Mom who wouldn’t tell him. James is a 15 year old boy and I’d say that his health is going pretty bad since he smokes and drinks.
James was born in Brooklyn, New York to Dennis and Ruth McBride, his father deceased before he was born. His mother later married a man names Hunter Jordan and they added 4 for kids to the 8 she already had. They both believed that education and religion was the way to life. Hunter was a furnace fireman and had a very calm , civilized attitude but he was someone you didn’t want to mess with at all. Ruth didn’t tolerate disobedience from the kids at all; if you came in late from curfew, missed school work, or did anything she disapproved of it resulted into a beaten. When James was younger he witnessed his mother’s purse get snatched by someone, and she didn’t scream nor call for help. Hunter Jordan died later on in the years, Ruth started to become depressed by this and James hated to see it. As a result, James turned to
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James loved to read and play the flute, he even received a scholarship. Ruth was a mother of twelve so it was hard for her to dedicate her time to just one child, James craved for her attention and love. He loves to visit his older sister Jackie’s house, he even got kicked out of summer school three times in a row just to go over there. Also, he was a cautious person he knew what he was doing was wrong but he still did it anyways. Ruth was a Jew deep down inside but converted over to christianity right along with her kids. The kids were always participating in church events, but James got up to some age and could say he didn’t want to go so he dropped out of church. He had a daily routine of getting up prepared for school but going to run the streets
As James McBride finalizes the last chapter, readers become more informed on the topic of race which serves as a major recurring theme throughout the book. Specifically, McBride delves into his mother’s hardship as a wife of a black man and the vitriolic responses she received from a mostly segregated society. Infact, readers also see how after leaving behind her family, Ruth took refuge by almost identifying as black, as it was the only group that accepted her. Therefore, it appears evident that Ruth being sedulous and determined to erase her past that she considered as a unwanted stain or blemish in her life, contributed to allowing an identity crisis to ferment within James. As shown in previous chapters, James recognized his struggle as
As a child, McBride knew that he and his family were different. They lived in a black neighborhood with a white mother and a dozen children. The fact that his mother was white created many issues
On the other hand, James is anxious in a fearful way because although James is black, his mother is not, and he feared for her life during
(Page 50). This passage showed how James felt inspired and safe with god because of how they would impact his mother, he saw how it was one of the few things that could bring her joy, one of the few things she may listen to and reason with, and even as a child if he didn’t understand his mother's
James McBride underwent an idiosyncratic life like no other; In illustration, he grew up to a penniless Jewish Jewish mom that he had a miniscule comprehension of, 11 siblings ranging in colors from chocolate black to cream white, and two fathers that would ultimately perish before he attained the age of adulthood. On the contrary, he and his siblings grew up, despite being poverty-stricken, to take on occupations such as doctors, teachers, lawyers, and journalists. This very scenario appears peculiar and odd to the general, but snugs itself well in The Color of Water ; A contentious and suspenseful memoir where James McBride, the main character, pieces the lost fragments of his unknown past. James does so in recent chapters by embarking on a travel across Virginia and New
Ruth felt fulfilment in her children’s relationship with God. Ruth would make her kids play their instruments or recite a bible verse (McBride 53). James ended up going to Oberlin College and playing the saxophone. Playing instruments in church gatherings could have played a role in influencing him to attend the liberal arts college and continue playing instruments. Another religious value that Ruth passed onto James was that she would always talk about Jewish people as Jews.
“When I asked her if she was white, she’d say, “No. I’m light skinned,” and change the subject again.” (Ch.4, pg.15) Ruth’s changing the topic of racial issues caused even more perplexity and insecurities within James. Because of his uncertainty, it was very difficult for James to decide how he fits into his conservative society. Also, in his community it was only the McBride siblings who seemed to come from the interracial family which made them partially feel like
Ruth lived a very sad life with her father, she admire the Black folks they were poor but they appeared happy. Ruth states, “If there was one thing Tateh didn’t like more than gentiles, it was black folks”(McBride 107). Tateh hated black folks so much that after Ruth married Dennis James’ father a black man, he disowned her. Keeping that a secret was better off for her kids but James wanted to know where was his mother from, who was her family, so James went to Suffolk, Virginia where his mother was raised. To find out that his grandfather was a racist, horrible person.
This shows that one's lifestyle can change in a blink of an eye and not take things for granted. Due to Ruth May being ill, the rest of the sisters are forced to take over the household by cooking, cleaning and taking care of themselves. Leah By the end of the chapter,
Hunter was referred to as “Daddy” by James because he was the closest dad James had ever had since his father died when he was very young. Also after Hunter died James was caught shoplifting and his mother, Ruth, finally found out that James was skipping school. After Hunter Jordan died James said “I wanted to tell him that I loved him, that I hoped with all my heart that he would get better, but I could not form the words in my mouth. ”(Pg. 128).
Ruth was born as Rachel Shilsky and fled Poland with her parents as a child, when Jews were being killed by both Russians and Germans. When Rabbi Shilsky wants to scare his family in America he threatens to send them back to Europe where the Jews are subject to constant terrorism. The young Ruth, however, finds racial hatred in America as well. When her family moves to Suffolk, Virginia, she is made fun of at school and hated for being Jewish. She is sympathetic for the black community who come into her father’s store.
Ruth was going through a rough time after leaving her mom sick and later finding out she had died. She had serious depression but Dennis was able to bring her back along with the faith he had in Christianity. Ruth was inspired by the way Dennis believed in God. Believing in Christianity gave her a reason to believe in forgiveness and this is how she is able to move forward with her life. Ruth states, “In Ruth’s early life she had to go through tough situations that ultimately shaped her to be the women she became (217)”
Yet, at home, she devotes love and curiosity to her family. This contrasts to multiple other characters, as the relationship between Ruth and her single mother is inspiring. Accordingly, she respects her mother, who provides encouragements like, “It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.” With pure gratitude, Ruth seeks to apply her mother’s words. When bullies trouble Philip, Ruth can empathise with him.
Ruth is willing to work harder and harder if it means she works for what her family wants and needs. Ruth Younger is motivated by working for her family’s and her goals to get what they dream
Ruth the Perpetual Foreigner and Model Minority by Gale A. Yee illustrates how the story of Ruth and the