October 30, 2005 8:10 PM
The Color of Water
Just wanted to say a few words about a book I recently read, The Color of Water
Subtitled A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother, this book is so much more. James McBride was the 8th of 12 children born to a remarkable Jewish woman whose past remained a mystery until as a grown-up man, McBride set out to draw it from her. Emigrating from Poland in the 20's, her family settled in southern Virginia, where Ruth endured a desperate and painful childhood before fleeing to New York when she was 19. A few years of debauchery were redeemed when she fell in love with a loving black man - a preacher - whom she married and bore nine children before his unexpected death. A second marriage to another equally loving black man produced three more children.
Though suffering financial poverty, the family was never at a loss for faith, hope and charity. In addition, Ruth's passion for education and excellence gave her children a vision which proves that where there's a will, lack of money is no obstacle. Today, all of her 12 children are professionals with advanced degrees. And Ruth herself went back to college late in life to earn hers as well.
The unique twist is race, and McBride's recounting of how he first began to notice his mother was different - she never would acknowledge or admit that she was not black - and how fearful he became during the Black Power/Black Panther years that harm would come to her.
Ruth’s family shunned her when she married a black man, but everything she lost was more than replaced with a loving husband, 12 children into whom she poured her life, and a vibrant faith in Jesus.
A common stereotype of big families is that parents cannot properly nurture so many individual children, that the children will never reach their potential and even that they will be cursed with lower intelligence.
Maybe those critics have never met a mom like Mrs. McBride. What they forget to take into account is that mothers of many are completely surrendered to being moms. Other things fade in importance (as Holly wrote of so eloquently here). Mothering is their priority.
And when mothering is the priority, kids are bound to flourish. The writing of James McBride is testimony to this. A beautiful book you'll want to read and then perhaps share with your teens.
Comments
i WANT this book! read the teaser on Amazon.
Posted by: floorplan | October 31, 2005 8:59 AM
Thanks for your thoughts on this book, Barbara. After reading your post I went and checked a copy out of the library. I know I'll love it.
Posted by: Donna | October 31, 2005 2:38 PM
What a loving rememberance of the sacrifices and love of his mother. I loved this book!
Posted by: Heidi in Wa | November 1, 2005 4:23 PM
I think I saw this man on Oprah, a long time ago. I'd like to read the book, also.
Posted by: Julana | November 1, 2005 5:54 PM
