The Color of Water by James McBride
A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother
This book is a moving memoir that tells the story of a biracial man raised in a housing project in Brooklyn by his white, Jewish mother. The narrative alternates between the author's perspective and his mother's, providing a nuanced view of issues related to race, religion, and identity. The author's mother, a Polish immigrant, married a black man in the 1940s and raised twelve children in the midst of poverty and racial tension. Despite the hardships, she instilled in her children the importance of education and self-reliance. The book is a tribute to the strength, resilience, and love of this remarkable woman.
The 922nd greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1995
- Nationality
- American
- Type
- Nonfiction
- Pages
- 300-350
- Words
- 76,000
- Original Language
- English
- Alternate Titles
- None
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following 6 lists:
- 51st on Koen Book Distributors Top 100 Books of the Past Century (themodernnovel.com)
- 61st on The Greatest Books of All Time (Reader's Digest)
- 146th on Books Of The Century (Library Journal)
- The 75 Best Books of the Past 75 Years (Parade Magazine)
- 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime (Amazon.com (USA))
- The 50 Best Memoirs of the Past 50 Years (NY Times)