The Color Of Water Discussion Questions 2014

The Color of Water Discussion Questions Please respond to each of the following questions. You should type responses to each, and be prepared to hand­in and discuss your responses in class (see the schedule for the dates). Be sure—wherever possible—to relate the discussions back to course concepts. 1. "Our house was a combination three­ring circus and zoo, complete with ongoing action, daring feats, music, and animals." Does Helen leave to escape her chaotic homelife or to escape the mother whose very appearance confuses her about who she is? 2. "It was in her sense of education, more than any other, that Mommy conveyed her Jewishness to us." Do you agree with this statement? Is it possible that Ruth McBride Jordan's unshakable devotion to her faith, even though she converted to Christianity from Judaism, stems from her
Orthodox Jewish upbringing? 3. "Mommy's contradictions crashed and slammed against one another like bumper cars at Coney
Island. White folks, she felt, were implicitly evil toward blacks, yet she forced us to go to white schools to get the best education. Blacks could be trusted more, but anything involving blacks was probably substandard... She was against welfare and never applied for it despite our need, but championed those who availed themselves of it." Do you think these contradictions served to confuse Ruth's children further, or did they somehow contribute to the balanced view of humanity that James McBride possesses? 4. Ruth says that all her father wanted was money and to be American. Did he achieve those goals? 5. When James punches the Black Panther's son, what were his thoughts? What do his thought reveal about the potentially divided feelings of biracial children? 6. Why do you think Ruth placed such emphasis on hard work and education? 7. Why do you think Ruth is usually elusive about her past? 8. Ruth has a tremendous love of the Christian faith. Do you believe that her childhood experiences with Judaism sowed the seeds for her adult spiritual life? 9. Once Ruth separates from her family, she is "dead" to them. When she returns to her sister or aunts, for example, they refuse to see her. Do you think this cutting of ties is justifiable in any way? 10. During his adolescence, James spent three straight summers in Louisville, Kentucky with his older sister Jack. Explain how his experiences there affected his perspective on his life. 11. The McBride children's struggle with their identities led each to his or her own "revolution." Is it also possible that that same struggle led them to define themselves through professional achievement? 12. Several of the McBride children became involved in the civil rights movement. Do you think that

this was a result of the times in which they lived, their need to belong to a group that lent them a solid identity, or a combination of these factors? 13. While reading the book, were you curious about how Ruth McBride Jordan's remarkable faith had translated into the adult lives of her children? Do you think that faith is something that can be passed on from one generation to the next or do you think that faith that is instilled too strongly in children eventually causes them to turn away from it? 14. Do you think it would be possible to achieve what Ruth McBride has achieved in today's society? 15. What out of this book stands out the most to you, and how does this relate to the course content we’ve been reading/discussing? Choose three course concepts and discuss where you see them at play in the book.