The Color of Water

How long would you withhold your heritage from your children? That is the dilemma Ruchel Dwajra Zylska, or better known as Ruth McBride-Jordan had to come to grips with. In James McBride’s book The Color of Water, McBride chronicles his life, and finally learns of his mother’s history. Although the book is an uplifting family story, Ruth McBride did a disservice to her children by not informing them of their Jewish heritage. I …showed first 75 words of 1146 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1146 total…and explained that in fact James was Jewish, the answer which James was searching for his whole life. He could now come to grips with the world and be comfortable being himself. If Ruth had been up front with her children about race and identity, James would have had an easier transition into the real world. Ruth’s way of raising her children helped them become successful, but didn’t help her children know themselves.