The Color of Water- a Search for Identity

A detailed Summary of The Color of Water- a Search for Identity

The American Heritage Dictionary defines identity as the distinct personality of an individual. Many factors make up one's identity, such as race, one's relationship with society, and religion. People seek other people who with they can identify. One must interact with others and learn from his interests and their responses to find a suitable group. The process of finding a group allows one to discover his own identity. Through The Color of Water, James McBride demonstrates that one perceives his identity through feedback from others as well as through his own thoughts and emotions.

One aspect of identity where feedback can be given almost instantaneously is race, as it involves a person's skin color. Young children often ignore each others' races unless they are taught or given reason to do otherwise. McBride's race came to his attention at an early age. He noticed that both black people and white people stared at his white mother with her black family, letting him know that his family was different from what was considered normal and acceptable by society. Comparing skin color with his mother, he noticed that her skin was white while his was black. He became confused about his own color and uncomfortable with the

fact that his mother was white. He wanted to be accepted by others, and he thought that life "would be easier if [his family was] just one color, black or white" (103). McBride became aware of his race at a younger age than most children. While he was comparing skin color with others, I was unconcerned about my race because people of similar skin color surrounded me. I was aware of black people, but, because most people that were around me were white, I never felt alienated because of my race. Also, my family was made up of one race, so I did not share McBride's confusion about his color. Because of his uncertainty, he was unsure of how he fit into society.

James McBride's mother, Ruth, also found a group of supportive people with beliefs that were similar to hers. She relied on her thoughts and emotions and others' feedback to discover the religious aspect of her identity. Her family was extremely strict in its Jewish beliefs, and her father was an Orthodox rabbi. Because her father forced her to spend her time outside of school working at his store, she became lonely and unhappy. At school, the painful name-calling she received from the other students made her feel further separated from society. With the exception of Frances, she was friendless. Ruth was "starving for love and affection" (83). When she escaped from her religious prison, she sought a new, forgiving religion with which she could identify. She found that she fit in with the Baptist religion. Although she did not blend in with them physically, she matched them in their spiritua

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Approximate Word count = 1057
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English