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The Color of Water: A Black Man’s tribute to His White Mother, author James McBride, writes both a memoir and a tribute to the life of his mother, Ruth McBride. The setting tells the story of Ruth’s life, which begins in the 1920's. The author places emphasis on the 1930's thru the 1950's. James’s memoir covers the 1960's thru the 1990's. There are several places in which the story takes place, Suffolk, Virginia; New York City; Louisville, Kentucky; Oberlin, Ohio; Wilmington, Delaware. James was born in 1957 to a black father and a Jewish immigrant mother, in Delaware. James’s biological father, Andrew McBride, died of lung cancer while his mother was pregnant with him. Therefore James regarded his stepfather, Hunter Jordan, as “daddy.” James’s mother eventually had twelve children, eight from her first husband, and four from her second husband. The major conflict is James’s struggle to come to terms with his racial identity and background. As a young man, James expresses his confusion by succumbing to drugs and crime. The Civil Rights and Black Power movements manifested themselves in James’s siblings life and soon his life.
Approximate Word count = 731
Approximate Pages = 2.9
(250 words per page double spaced)
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