Although it defines and affects everyone, the topic of “race” is a difficult one. To some, race is the most important aspect of their life, while to others race is what they check off on forms. James McBride’s memoir The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to his White Mother demonstrates racial topics and issues that discuss origins, sense of self, sense of identity, and neutrality. In this essay I argue that we should not try to escape who we are, our sense of self, Sense of self is largely influenced by others. We tend to think how we view ourselves is completely up to us but that is not the case. Without knowing it we allow others to skew our sense of self. Racism can lead us to believe we are inferior or superior to others. Subconsciously