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 Smolowe and Greg Aunapu, explores how other families deal with interracial marriages. In the Social Science Quarterly there is an article, “Racial/Ethnic Identification of Children of Intermarried Couples” where the author reflects on how biracial families form their identity. Issues like interracial marriage as shown in the Time magazines article and loss of identity are relatable to “The Color of Water.”
“The Color of Water” written by James McBride is about a Jewish, white woman named Ruth who married two African-American men and had eight children in the first marriage and four in the second marriage. Their story is told through Ruth eighth child James. James had a conflict trying to understand why his mother was white and he was black. Ruth refuses to tell her children about her past, because she wants them to believe that everyone is equal and fears they will think differently if they hear about her past. She did not want them to learn how hurtful racism could be. “The Color of Water” begins with Ruth telling her son that she is dead. Ruth’s family has told her she was dead in their eyes because she went against their religion by marrying a black man. Her family disowned her because she did not marry a Jewish man and she
“The Color of Water” written by James McBride is about a Jewish, white woman named Ruth who married two African-American men and had eight children in the first marriage and four in the second marriage. Their story is told through Ruth eighth child James. James had a conflict trying to understand why his mother was white and he was black. Ruth refuses to tell her children about her past, because she wants them to believe that everyone is equal and fears they will think differently if they hear about her past. She did not want them to learn how hurtful racism could be. “The Color of Water” begins with Ruth telling her son that she is dead. Ruth’s family has told her she was dead in their eyes because she went against their religion by marrying a black man. Her family disowned her because she did not marry a Jewish man and she
Bibliography: McBride, James. The Color of Water: A Black Man 's Tribute to His White Mother. New York: Riverhead Books, 1996. Print. Qian, Zhenchao. "Options: Racial/Ethnic Identification Of Children Of Intermarried Couples." Social Science Quarterly (Blackwell Publishing Limited) 85.3 (2004): 746-766. Academic Search Complete. Web. 17 Dec. 2012. Smolowe, JillAunapu, Greg. "Intermarried...With Children." Time 142.21 (1993): 64. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web. 17 Dec. 2012. The Color of Water Literary Research Paper Grecia Olivares-Diaz English 209-Section 001 – Children’s Literature Professor Adero-Zaire R. Green December 19, 2012