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Identity In The Color Of Water By James Mcbride

1128 Words5 Pages

An awareness of one’s past is essential to the establishment of their personality and identity. James McBride’s, The Color of Water, is both a memoir and tribute to his mother, Ruth McBride Jordan. Throughout most of James’ life, he questioned who his mother was behind all her secretiveness and failure to educate him on her past life. Soon enough, she agrees to being interviewed by her son and continues by revealing every aspect of her identity. While being interviewed, she talks about the three names she’s lived by. She had changed her name from “Ruchel Dwajra Zylska” to “Rachel Deborah Shilsky” to “Ruth McBride Jordan.” These name changes are significant with respect to her identity and her life because each name holds a chapter to her life, …show more content…

He made an immense impact on her life and introduced her to many new things, including a new religion. Andrew himself was part of the Christian faith and soon enough, Ruth converted to Christianity. On page 43, Ruth says, “Your father changed my life. He taught me about a God who lifted me up and forgave me and made me new. I was lucky to meet him.” After converting to this new religion, church became a huge part of her life and her future children. Andrew also brought her lots of happiness and love, something she didn’t receive much of in Virginia. Sadly, he died after battling lung cancer. Months after his passing, Ruth met Hunter Jordan, a furnace fireman for the New York Housing Authority. On page 118, James recalls the ways of his stepfather and states, “He made no separation between the McBride and Jordan children, and my siblings and I never thought or referred to each other as half brothers and sister; for the powerless Little Kids, myself included, he was ‘Daddy’.” Hunter brought lots of joy into his and Ruth’s children. Even though half the bunch weren’t biologically his, he raised them as his own and showed the entire family how much he loved them. Hunter Jordan died from a stroke during James’ boyhood, leaving him behind with the responsibility of taking care of his family. After both of her husband’s passings, Ruth kept both of their last names. The two men gave her many things that she was truly grateful for, including her children. Andrew Dennis McBride and Hunter Jordan were part of the greatest chapters of her life, something she’d honor

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Brief Summary Of James Mcbride By James Mcbride

475 Words | 2 Pages

They both believed that education and religion was the way to life. Hunter was a furnace fireman and had a very calm , civilized attitude but he was someone you didn’t want to mess with at all. Ruth didn’t tolerate disobedience from the kids at all; if you came in late from curfew, missed school work, or did anything she disapproved of it resulted into a beaten. When James was younger he witnessed his mother’s purse get snatched by someone, and she didn’t scream nor call for help. Hunter Jordan died later on in the years, Ruth started to become depressed by this and James hated to see it.

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True Identity In The Color Of Water By James Mcbride

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James observed that all the mothers of his friends had parents who looked similar (skin tone) and became curious because his mother had a different skin color than him. When he asked Ruth all of his questions, she consistently refused to give any answers. This made James’s need to know increase. Another change that James went through

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Running And Emotional Disconnection In James Mcbride's The Color Of Water

1152 Words | 5 Pages

Ruth tells James about her past although she avoided and ran away from it for many years. She passed on her actions and reactions to her children, especially James, as she formed a family. James learning about his mother's past made him realize that he resembles Ruth in many ways. They both grieved on their own, but how they grieved was similar. Whether it was drugs or a bike ride, they both had their own way to run.

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Ruth May's Reconciliations In Kilanga

805 Words | 4 Pages

She grows old with the self-condemnation of staying with Nathan for as long as she did, for if she mustered up the courage to leave the Congo earlier, Ruth May would not have died. Ruth May’s plea for Orleanna to forgive herself, just as Ruth May has forgiven her, presents the possibility of repentance for anyone, no matter how great of consequence their mistakes are. Though she never passed the age of 6, Ruth May seems to have learned better than most the importance of finding strength from and learning from wrong-doings. Urging her mother to “Move on. Walk forward into the light”, Ruth may passes along her own moral reassessment to anyone whom will listen, telling the error in letting so-called sins weigh down ones self forever

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Otherness In James Mcbride's The Color Of Water

1365 Words | 6 Pages

Throughout the book, The Color of Water, the author- James McBride depicts how females in mid-1900’s were experienced “otherness” in the society. As Dr. Zuleyka Zevallas states in “What is Otherness?” that, “otherness...is controlled by groups that have greater political power. He also says, otherness is the construction of social identities which are “often thought as being natural or inhale…” In other words, the society is controlled by a group or groups of people who have greater political power.

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Ruth Character Analysis

721 Words | 3 Pages

Instead of giving in to the man’s racist ways, Ruth holds her ground and honors her husband by displaying her pride for him and their relationship publicly. She was undeterred by the possible negative outcome of her bold actions, which is key in an effective leader. Her courage and confidence lead her to making daring decisions, like marrying a black man, moving away from home, and helping her husband create a church from scratch. “‘What color is God’s spirit?’ ‘It doesn’t have a color,’ she said.

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The Color Of Water Identity Essay

1170 Words | 5 Pages

“When I asked her if she was white, she’d say, “No. I’m light skinned,” and change the subject again.” (Ch.4, pg.15) Ruth’s changing the topic of racial issues caused even more perplexity and insecurities within James. Because of his uncertainty, it was very difficult for James to decide how he fits into his conservative society. Also, in his community it was only the McBride siblings who seemed to come from the interracial family which made them partially feel like

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907 Words | 4 Pages

It’s a fact that the identity of a person can be influenced by the people that surround us, and by situations that are beyond our control. Gail Carr Feldman, who’s been practicing clinical psychology for thirty-five years, states that our earliest and most lasting influences come from our families, caretakers and friends. This can be seen in the John Green novel, An Abundance of Katherines. The main character, Colin Singleton is an adolescent who has dated a total of 19 girls named Katherine and been dumped by 18 of them. Colin aims to find a mathematical theory to predict how long a relationship will last for.

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1311 Words | 6 Pages

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The Invisible Hero Character Analysis

898 Words | 4 Pages

Yet, at home, she devotes love and curiosity to her family. This contrasts to multiple other characters, as the relationship between Ruth and her single mother is inspiring. Accordingly, she respects her mother, who provides encouragements like, “It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.” With pure gratitude, Ruth seeks to apply her mother’s words. When bullies trouble Philip, Ruth can empathise with him.

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1008 Words | 5 Pages

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1422 Words | 6 Pages

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714 Words | 3 Pages

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