The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother - Softcover

McBride, James

4.13

123,497 ratings by Goodreads

9781573225786: The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1573225789 ISBN 13: 9781573225786

Publisher: Penguin, 1999

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'James McBride evokes his childhood trek across the great racial divide with the kind of power and grace that touches and uplifts all our hearts.' - Bebe Moore Campbell 'A triumph...The two stories, son's and mother's, beautifully juxtaposed, strike a graceful note at a time of racial polarization.' - The New York Times Book Review

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:

Order this book ... and please don't be put off by its pallid subtitle, A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother, which doesn't begin to do justice to the utterly unique and moving story contained within. The Color of Water tells the remarkable story of Ruth McBride Jordan, the two good men she married, and the 12 good children she raised. Jordan, born Rachel Shilsky, a Polish Jew, immigrated to America soon after birth; as an adult she moved to New York City, leaving her family and faith behind in Virginia. Jordan met and married a black man, making her isolation even more profound. The book is a success story, a testament to one woman's true heart, solid values and indomitable will. Ruth Jordan battled not only racism but also poverty to raise her children and, despite being sorely tested, never wavered. In telling her story--along with her son's--The Color of Water addresses racial identity with compassion, insight and realism. It is, in a word, inspiring, and you will finish it with unalloyed admiration for a flawed but remarkable individual. And, perhaps, a little more faith in us all.

Review:

Praise for "The Color of Water"

"[A] triumph."--"The New York Times Book Review"

"As lively as a novel, a well-written, thoughtful contribution to the literature on race."--"The Washington Post Book World"

"Inspiring."--"Glamour"

"Vibrant."--"The Boston Globe"

"James McBride evokes his childhood trek across the great racial divide with the kind of power and grace that touches and uplifts all hearts."--Bebe Moore Campbell

Praise for "The Color of Water"
"[A] triumph." "The New York Times Book Review"
"As lively as a novel, a well-written, thoughtful contribution to the literature on race." "The Washington Post Book World"
"Inspiring." "Glamour"
"Vibrant." "The Boston Globe"
"James McBride evokes his childhood trek across the great racial divide with the kind of power and grace that touches and uplifts all hearts." Bebe Moore Campbell"

"[A] triumph." "The New York Times Book Review"
"As lively as a novel, a well-written, thoughtful contribution to the literature on race." "The Washington Post Book World"
"Inspiring." "Glamour"
"Vibrant." "The Boston Globe"
"James McBride evokes his childhood trek across the great racial divide with the kind of power and grace that touches and uplifts all hearts." Bebe Moore Campbell"

"[A] triumph." The New York Times Book Review
"As lively as a novel, a well-written, thoughtful contribution to the literature on race." The Washington Post Book World
"Inspiring." Glamour
"Vibrant." The Boston Globe
"James McBride evokes his childhood trek across the great racial divide with the kind of power and grace that touches and uplifts all hearts." Bebe Moore Campbell"

-[A] triumph.---The New York Times Book Review
-As lively as a novel, a well-written, thoughtful contribution to the literature on race.---The Washington Post Book World
-Inspiring.---Glamour
-Vibrant.---The Boston Globe
-James McBride evokes his childhood trek across the great racial divide with the kind of power and grace that touches and uplifts all hearts.---Bebe Moore Campbell

"[A] triumph."--The New York Times Book Review

"As lively as a novel, a well-written, thoughtful contribution to the literature on race."--The Washington Post Book World

"Inspiring."--Glamour

"Vibrant."--The Boston Globe

"James McBride evokes his childhood trek across the great racial divide with the kind of power and grace that touches and uplifts all hearts."--Bebe Moore Campbell

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