The Color of Water

The Color of Water: A Black Man's Homage to His White Mother is James McBride's autobiography and memoir, originally published in 1995; it is also a tribute to his mother, whom he refers to as Mommy or Ma. The chapters alternate between James McBride's depictions of his childhood and first-person narratives of his mother Ruth's life, which takes place primarily before her son was born. McBride portrays the mixed feelings he had as he fought to understand who he actually was, while his mother recalls the difficulties she faced as a white, Jewish lady who decided to marry a black man in 1942.

This fascinating, superbly written memoir was a New York Times bestseller for two years. To date, it has sold more than 2.1 million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than 16 languages. It tells the story of James McBride and his white, Jewish mother Ruth. Ruth was born in Poland and raised in Suffolk, Va, the daughter of an itinerant rabbi and a loving, disabled mother who spoke no English. At 17, Ruth fled the South, landed in Harlem, married a black man in 1941, founded a church, was twice widowed and raised 12 children in New York City. Despite hardship, poverty, and suffering, Ruth sent all 12 of her children to college.

Lavishly praised by critics, embraced by millions of readers, this tribute to a remarkable woman helped set the standard for modern-day memoir writing. It is considered an American classic and is required reading in high schools and colleges across America. It is a perennial favorite of book clubs and community-wide reading events, including New York City and Philadelphia. But most importantly, it is an eloquent, touching exploration of what family really means.

Detailed information:

Author: James McBride
Language: English
Genre: Memoir

Link to read: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29209