The color of water: a Black man's tribute to his white mother
(Book)
Description
Who was Ruth McBride Jordan? Not even her son knew the answer to that question until he embarked on a twelve-year journey that changed himself and his family forever. Born Rachel Deborah Shilsky, she began life as the daughter of an angry, failed orthodox Jewish rabbi in the South. To escape her unhappy childhood, Ruth ran away to Harlem, married a black man, became Baptist and started an all-black church. Her son James tells of growing up with inner confusions, chaos, and financial hardships; of his own flirtation with drugs and violence; of the love and faith his mother gave her twelve children; and of his belated coming to terms with her Jewish heritage. The result is a powerful portrait of growing up, a meditation on race and identity, and a poignant, beautifully crafted hymn from a son to his mother.
Copies
Subjects
McBride-Jordan, Ruth, -- 1921-2010.
Mothers -- New York (State) -- New York -- Biography.
Multiracial people -- New York (State) -- New York -- Biography.
Multiracial people -- New York (State) -- New York -- Race identity.
New York (N.Y.) -- Biography.
White people -- New York (State) -- New York -- Biography.
More Details
Level 6.1, 11 Points
Notes
Reviews from GoodReads
Citations
McBride, J. (1997). The color of water: a Black man's tribute to his white mother. Riverhead Books.
Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation (style guide)McBride, James, 1957-. 1997. The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother. Riverhead Books.
Chicago / Turabian - Humanities Citation (style guide)McBride, James, 1957-, The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother. Riverhead Books, 1997.
MLA Citation (style guide)McBride, James. The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother. Riverhead Books, 1997.
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Record Information
| Last Sierra Extract Time | Jun 28, 2025 05:15:23 PM |
|---|---|
| Last File Modification Time | Jun 28, 2025 05:16:00 PM |
| Last Grouped Work Modification Time | Jul 05, 2025 10:18:25 PM |
MARC Record
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| 245 | 1 | 4 | |a The color of water : |b a Black man's tribute to his white mother / |c James McBride. |
| 264 | 1 | |a New York : |b Riverhead Books, |c 1997. | |
| 264 | 4 | |c ©1996 | |
| 300 | |a xvii, 291 pages : |b illustrations ; |c 21 cm | ||
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