"There's such a big difference between being dead and alive. I told myself, the greatest gift that anyone can give anyone else is life. And the greatest sin a person can do to another is to take away that life. Next to that, all the rules and religions in the world are secondary; mere words and beliefs that people choose to believe and kill and hate by. My life won't be lived that way, and neither, I hope, will my children's."

James McBride's The Color of Water:

A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother

Chapters 10-18

In the middle 'chunk' of this novel, McBride grows from boy to man physically, mentally, emotionally, and especially spiritually. In Chapter 10, the kids begin questioning their mother's past more and more. Reluctant, Ruth holds back her childhood and rather tells of their father's family life instead. The children, James especially, are curious of their mother's Judaism decent. Ruth's attitude, to me, reflects her children's upbringing. She teaches values and the importance of education --- nothing more, nothing less.

McBride begins to discover his love for jazz --- it's his clutch to the imaginative world, rather than facing the painful realities that ensue because of his race. The racial ridicule increases as his classmates make him feel inferior. He almost wishes his family were just one color. This sparks his real investigation of his mother's past.

In the next chapter, Ruth opens up about her secret love affair with Peter...and she's having his baby! That was a definite surprise to me! I was even more surprised that her mother was compassionate, kept her affair a secret, and sent her to live with her aunts in New York. Although Ruth builds strong bonds with Aunt Betsy, working in the leather factory became tiresome. BUT --- she met McBride's father, Dennis, there. Problems with her aunts arise, and she moves out. But before meeting Dennis, Ruth headed 'home' to complete her education...meeting back up with Peter who was to marry the black mother of his soon-to-be child. She has pitfalls along the way when her father argues with her about her education...this is how she ends up back in NY with Dennis. 

But Dennis (the biological father) was not the important Dad to McBride. In Chapter 12, McBride recounts his intimate final moments with his stepfather before his death of a stroke. He promises his stepfather that he will take care of Ruth and the family.

Unable to cope, McBride slacks off in school, begins skipping classes, turns to drugs, and even begins to do some petty stealing. All out of anger, it was sad to see McBride's quick turn for the worse. His mother sent him to spend the summer with his sister in Kentucky. There, he learned to educate himself and work hard in life. This is where I really saw McBride form into a man --- realizing the importance of his life. 

McBride turns to God for compassion, comfort, and guidance at this point in the novel...this is where I really saw him grow morally and spiritually. He takes deep consideration to changing his previous behavior. 

At the close of this portion of the book, the family packs up and heads to Delaware...for New York is far too expensive! I really enjoyed reading McBride's love of jazz grow and grow. He went to Europe with the Dawson's and got into Oberlin College! Can't wait to see what's in store for McBride.