The Symbolism In James Mcbride's The Color Of Water

In chapter one of “The Color of Water”, Ruth, James McBride’s mother, starts out the book by saying she’s “dead” to her family. Her family wanted no part of Ruth and nor did she (Mcbride1). When she and her family moved to America, back then, her name was changed from Ruchel to Rachel. Ruth got rid of her name, Rachel, when she left to Virginia when she was just nineteen. The fact that Ruth becomes a fugitive is to stay away from her greedy, unaroused, racist father and the suffering of being forced into the practice of Judaism. Since she disliked her father, she distasted the relationship between her mother and father. Even though she deserted her home, she adored her mother. However, Ruth did not fully commit to Judaism and did not see