The Color of Water: A Breathtaking Memoir

How does a family survive the prying eyes of the public when they're constantly being judged? James McBride’s memoir, The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to his White Mother, goes deep into the struggles of racial injustice and economic struggles in the 1960s. 

The Color of Water was published in 1995 by James McBride, an accomplished musician, screenwriter, and author. McBride is well known for several of his books, including The Color of Water and The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store. He graduated from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 1980, and has since published ten books and released over thirty songs, some of which are covers of his favorites.

The Color of Water takes place throughout the 1900s, from the early 1920s to present day. It’s a dual narrative, switching between James and his mother, Ruth McBride’s, points of view. It tell both their life stories in vivid detail, retelling the struggles and abuse they went through over the years.

Ruth McBride was a young Jewish girl in Poland in the midst of WWII. Her family was able to escape to America, where her father became a rabbi. After moving around, her family settled in a town called Suffolk, Virginia. Between dealing with sexual assault and the rules she was forced to comply with, her story is one of both pain and beauty. James McBride grew up in New York City, in the Red Hook Projects in Brooklyn. With eleven siblings and his mother as the only parent, he discusses the struggles of fitting in as a mixed child in a black community.

The Color of Water covers important topics such as race, identity, and family throughout his and his mother’s life. Both of their stories focus on finding a community and people you can connect with, even when the struggles of life seem impossible to overcome. 

Overall, this memoir is a masterpiece, a perfect blend of themes between the two stories. McBride does a wonderful job of showing the struggles he and his mom faced, and how they overcame them despite all they went through. The writing is immaculate, and the details he includes bring the story to life. It is a beautiful tribute to the late Ruth McBride, a reflection of her hard work and compassion in the face of abuse and pain. 

If you’re looking for a short book, whether it’s for class or for personal enjoyment, this book is a beautifully crafted classic. I would recommend anyone read this at least once, to read about both of their experiences, and remind ourselves to always continue fighting, even when life tries to throw us off track.