The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother

Written by:
James McBride
Narrated by:
Jd Jackson , Susan Denaker

Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
77
Narrator
25
Release Date
September 2014
Duration
8 hours 46 minutes
Summary
The New York Times bestselling story from the author of The Good Lord Bird, winner of the 2013 National Book Award for Fiction.

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.
Reviews
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Latoya L.

A soul divided! A black woman in white body...... this story is mesmerized and awakening. Being mixed, not knowing what side to fling too. Living in a world that considers the color of your skin, a political statement. Class, luck, religion, all factors in as well. Racism is taught, but once you know it's wrong it's up to you to act on it, unlearn it. Ruth did just that, growing up in a Jewish household, with a racist father and a handicapped mother. She left home and never returned, married a black man, well 2 black men, had 12 kids, converted to Christianity. Recently losing my grandmother, this story made me have all the feels. Ruth reminded me of my granny and included all of her feisty-ness, no nonsense and gumption. Thanks for sharing your mother and love.

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Tamara Malan

This book was very interesting and well written. I enjoyed the narration changes between mother and son.

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Patrick M.

Absolutely loved this book.

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Pastor Bob

Outstanding. Worth another reading later on. Well done!!

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Anonymous

Strength of mothers love. Her love for self and family was the soul of the story. Love is the power of life. Great book and narrator. I thank my Mother and all Mothers !!!

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Amy S.

A story of love and survival cutting through religious and racial divides and the triumph of family values despite abject poverty this memoir by James McBride is a stunning tribute to his mother.

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Nichole G

Great narrator!

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Anonymous

One of the best of my reads.

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Karen Jacobson

Fascinating and inspiring story of Ruth McVrude Jordan, her heartbreaking upbringing as an Orthodox Jew with a hateful father, and her adult life as the wife of two extraordinary black men, converting to Christianity and raising 12 mixed race children who became accomplished adults. The narrators were great. A feel good story of bravery and fortitude.

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Max perez

Great narrating but the book isn't very Interesting!

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