The Civil Rights Movement caused racial tension to be high and segregation had remained across the whole United States. In cities like New York, many African American families struggle with poverty and racism. James McBride, in The Color of Water, expanded on the experience of what it is like being raised by a Polish Jewish immigrant mother and an African American father. At the same time, she struggles with issues of identity and race. Ruth’s life and her different experiences have had an impact on James, it shaped his understanding of identity. Their relationship shows how identity is complex, they show how it's both shaped by personal decisions and the world they live in. In The Color of Water, given James and Ruth's different backgrounds …show more content…
Ruth was raised by a Jewish family in Suffolk, but due to past trauma, she decided to switch to Christianity as she grew her own family. Even being the only white person there, she showed up every Sunday at church to show how much she loved her identity and wanted to fit in. “Mommy loved God”. She went to church each and every Sunday, the only white person in sight” (45). Even though Ruth was the only white person at her church, this shows how much she cared about her faith and how she felt the happiness of belonging somewhere. She not only made a statement by showing up to church, but she also found a community that accepts her for who she is. Ultimately, this decision shows how important her faith was to her identity as she had to face life in a mainly Black community. James McBride shows his mother's strong independence and ignores all social expectations in "The Color of Water," showing the challenges of identity. James McBride explores the different parts of identity and being one's true self, talking about how his mother raised them and how being independent made her different from