The Color of Water 10th Anniversary Edition [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

This book is, indeed, a tribute to the author's mother. In it, the author, a man whose mother was white and his father black, tells two stories: that of his mother and his own. Tautly written in spare, clear prose, it is a wonderful story of a bi-racial family who succeeded and achieved the American dream, despite the societal obstacles placed in its way.

The author's mother was a Polish Orthodox Jew who migrated to America at the age of two with her family during the early nineteen twenties. They ultimately settled down in Virginia, where she led an isolated and lonely life; shunned by whites because she was Jewish and shunned by blacks because she was white. She was raised in a predominantly black neighborhood, where her father, a despicable and harsh man who brutalized his handicapped wife, ran a local grocery store, where he priced gouged his black clientele.

She left home and moved to New York when she was nineteen and never looked back. She met and married the author's father, a black man, when mixed race marriages were still frowned upon by both whites and blacks. Still, she always felt more comfortable around blacks than around whites. When he died sixteen years later, she married another black man who nurtured her eight children by the author's father and proceeded to give her four more children.

The author tells of his childhood, of his family, and of the issue of race that ultimately colored his life while growing up in predominantly black neighborhoods, where his mother stood out like a sore thumb because of the color of her skin. It was always an issue his mother avoided discussing with him, as for her it was not an issue. It was not until the author wrote this book that his mother discussed the issue of race within the context of her own life. From this dialogue emerges a fascinating look at the issues of race, as well as religion, and how it impacts on an individual's identity within our race conscious society.

It is also a very personal story. While the author's family was economically disadvantaged, his eccentric and independent mother always stressed education. She was a strict disciplinarian who brooked no nonsense from her twelve children. A convert to Christianity through her first husband, with whom she founded a Baptist church, she provided her children with the will to succeed. Consequently, all twelve eventually went to college and did her proud. The story of this unique family is told from two distinct, parallel perspectives: that of the author and that of his mother. While both are interesting, it is his mother's story that dominates this beautifully written book, which is, indeed, a tribute to her. It is truly a story told from the heart, as the love that the author has for his mother is evident with every written word.

I feel almost silly adding another review when others have said so much already. So, I'll keep it brief. This is an extremely well written book. It flows seamlessly back and forth between time periods and generations until, before you know it, it's over. And, contrary to what some others have written, it is not obsessed with race. Race, as McBride presents his struggles, can be seen as a metaphor for exclusion. McBride's experience brings to life the consequences of the unfortunate human tendency to separate people into in-groups and out-groups, and to denigrate those who belong to any out-group. Most of all, this is a heartwarming story about the power of love to overcome trauma. I recommend it to everyone, and most especially to anyone who has ever felt that they didn't fit into someone else's dichotomous box.

This book is a true story by james Mcbride. He wrote this masterpiece as a tribute to everything his mother went through for him and his siblings. The racial problems they went through describe a story many have gone through before and shows a side of society that not many understand. I also beileve it shows a side of this country some would like to deny exists or acknowledge. As to the one star review i would like to point out that what you have stated is a false accusation as well as ignorant beyond belief. Your view point does not represent the message the book is trying to send which i believe is that though there may be obstacles in one's life, they can overcome them and make their situation better. Ruth did this for her children by making them get an education and teaching them about racial ignorance and how to overcome it. Your statement however is saying the only reason this book is applaued is it was written by a black man whos mother happened to reject and renounce her jewish faith and it offends you because of this. Further more you say that if it were a jewish man who wrote a story such as this it would be rejected and deemed outrageous. This however just shows how close minded people are when they think opoinions such as these. It shows the same intolerance and slander against one ethnic group. Statements such as that one is what brings hatred and anger into this world. The book however is nto this at all. It is more however showing the side of not only racial boundries shattering but the loving care a ffamily really gives. It shows how a mother has the greatest impact on a child and to them seem bullet proof and act in such a manner. When you really see the side so many hide, you see struggles and hardships many face but bury away for they have something greater to think about, they think about their children, familys, loved ones and close friends and making it better for them. As a final note I beileve you have to understand that the author tells the truth and cannot hide the reality of what really happened. His mother is also human and like many humans has flaws. Readers must get that this book shows the flaws as well as how strong and a great mother Ruth really was.