Post your reader responses here: Choose a line from the text and explain why it stands out to you. Does this line shock you, confuse you, or seem important in some way? Does it make you ask a question? Can you make a connection to your life or another text? What is this line saying about people, or the world, in general?Then, respond to someone else's post. Agree or disagree, but make sure that you add something new-- a new idea, a reference to another part of the book. Include textual evidence as you push the conversation forward. Ask more questions to keep the dialogue going...
ReplyDelete“We attracted a lot of attention when we traveled because we were poor and Jewish and my mother was handicapped. I was real conscious of that. Being Jewish and having a handicapped mother.” pg 38
This quote stood out to me because it kind of reflects on how James feels while walking with his own mother. He's always scared for her since she stands out since she's white. It looks like he's unintentionally acting like his mother to maybe get closer to her. Since he mentions that he never got to spend so much individual time with her, he wants to get to know her better. How he accepts that his mother is different, is how his own mother realizes that she should've loved her mother instead of being ashamed of her.
I agree with you fully. I think that there's that great comparison between McBride's mother's view on her mother, and his view on her. Because McBride's grandmother attracted unwanted attention, I believe that Ruth now wants to prevent that for her children. However, because she is an Orthodox Jew walking around with a group of African American children, it's only common during that time that people stared. In addition, as the narrator stated in the beginning of the novel, his mother was an old middle-aged woman who rode a rusty bicycle around town as everyone watched her. I think that it's interesting to see that she's extremely big on 'privacy,' yet some of her actions prove to only draw attention.
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ReplyDelete"In the real world, mommy was mrs. mcbride or mrs. jordan, depending on whether she used my father's or step father's name, but in rev. owens's church, she was sister jordan." (page 46)
ReplyDeleteWhat this quote is essentially saying is that in life, we can lead many different lives when with others; its just human nature to be like a chameleon in terms of your individuality to please others around you. People generally want to be accepted in our world due to such pressure caused by outside influences and the status quo. When leading numerous lives, that can be quite problematic because you could possibly forget who you truly are as a person. To lose track of who you are is common in the world we live today; with numerous unique individuals in the world, it is completely natural for various people to impose their personality upon others. The mother clearly does not know her identity and is very afraid of her children being exposed to this world; she just wants her children to be shielded from the life-changing experiences that life has to offer and is doing that because she's afraid that her children will end up like her.
I agree that the mom really doesn't know her identity or really want to know. After reading your post I was wondering, what caused her to be this way? I think what caused her to be this way was her religion and her family. Religion is usually part of ones identity and because she was raised an Orthodox Jew but then she converted to christianity she is confused as to who she really is. Family is also considered part of ones identity. Since the mother seperated from her family she was missing a key piece of her identity.
Delete"Mommy loved God." -Page 45
ReplyDeleteWhat seems to be just a plain statement, turns out to be much more essential to the story. As McBride's mother details her life-story, she explains what a crucial man her father was. Because her father did things such as, "...getting in bed with [her] at night and doing things to [her]...", the only person she had hope in was God. She believed that he would rescue her from her hell and take her to a happier place. When she met her future husband, it was then that she knew God existed and was helping her move on with her life. Thus, she has a great passion and respect for God because it is he whom saved her life, and she won't ever forget that.
Hi Rina! I totally agree with you! James' mother had a really tough childhood, and she thought that the only way to get out of it was to believe in God, and it was the only way of her escaping from her troubles and being her new self. Adding to that, it's terrible what her dad did to her. He is a monster! what kind of father would do that to their own kid? and she didn't have nobody to trust. That is really tough.
DeleteI totally agree. She has all her respect for God by going to church frequently. Without God, she may not have made it this far and probably may not be alive.
DeleteI agree with all three of you- her faith and hope has gotten her so far in life, like her personal guardian. That's most likely why she's so strict on going to church with her kids, and practicing their faiths everyday.
Delete"My father did things to me when I was a young girl that I couldn't tell anyone about. Such as getting in bed with me at night and doing things to me sexually that i could not tell anyone about."
ReplyDeletePage 42
This quote from the book The Color Of Water stands out to me because James' mother explains how tough her childhood was, and her relationship with her father. Obviously, the kind of relationship that she had with her father was not great. Actually, it was pretty bad. Imagine a little girl being abused by her own "sick" dad, and she has nobody to help her. She has to keep the secret not only because she was scared of her dad, but for a little girl she felt dirty inside like she did something really bad even though it's not her fault. The worse part is that nobody cared because she was a child, and everyone was busy fighting for survival. I think that impact that happened to her life change who she was a lot, and that's probably one of the reasons why she doesn't like getting into her past because those moments makes her sad and guilty. In opinion, James' mother she is very sensitive women, and I think she never had nobody to listen to her. So she got used to not telling nobody what she really feels. She also doesn't want to impact her kids' life or their future, especially their education because education is really important to her.
I agree with your analysis completely. Unfortunately James' mother had no one to tell about the way her father abused her. I think this could be one of the reasons she doesn't like delving into the past. I think it is very sad that even if she had told her own mother nothing could have been done. However, I think she does want to impact her children's lives and make sure they have better childhoods than she did by insisting they go to church and school. She doesn't talk about her past of feelings, but I still think she is strong for escaping and raising a healthier family.
Delete* or not of
Delete"He only wanted money. That and to be an American. Those were the two things he wanted, and he got them too, but it cost him his family, which he ran into the ground and destroyed." pg. 41
ReplyDeleteThis quote is significant because it reveals more about James' mom's mentality. Most likely she keeps saying education, not money, is the key to a happy life, because her wealthy life was miserable. Money didn't stop her father from abusing her sexually and physically, make her mother strong enough to defend her self and her children, or her lifestyle less restricted. Thankfully, James' mother learned from her father's horrific parenting to value her family highly and above all material wealth. The hardship she experienced early on seems to have made her a stronger person with deep beliefs, faith in god and the downfalls of greed. It is obvious that James' mom was one of the brave few who break vicious cycles and not run her own family into the ground. She may not be a perfect parent, but from the example she had she emerged with more love and good advice for her children than you might think possible.
I completely agree. I think she took to mind what she experienced as a child for when her kids came along and wanted to be a good mother to them. From what I've read, she's never been mean to them or even yelled at them. The kids seem to be content with the way Ruth acts towards them, and that's what she wanted.
DeleteMatthew Baldwin
ReplyDelete"Were Moving"
This quote from chapter 5 shows that the moms life was always changing and on the move. Her original family was from Ireland but ended up in Virginia, from her dad's "work" as a traveling rabbi. The mom was made fun of in school when the family was in Virginia, but the family owned a store and became rich. the chapter is ironic because of the secqince. bad things happen then goo things but not good things to the mom, good things to the family, that the mom, ot seams, doesn't really care about
I feel like this quote shows that there's not much emotion in terms of change. They don't care too much about material goods, it seems, so they can have this change without having to make a big deal about it.
DeleteMax-- stick to your band, man!
Delete"In school the kids called me "Christ killer" and "Jew baby." That name stuck with me for a long time. "Jew baby." You know it's so easy to hurt a child." (Page 40)
ReplyDeleteThis quote really stood out to me because Ruth as a mother is willing to protect her children under any circumstance. As a child due to the fact that she was a Jew during the time period of the Holocaust, she was made fun of frequently. This signifies that she wants no harm towards her children. Which is why she rather be looked at and judge for being white in a black neighborhood; than others mistreating her kids due to their race. This Shows how fearless she is now, than what she was as a child. Her children come first and she seems to be very understanding to how they feel since she knows how it feels to be mistreated for being a Jew. This could also be the reason why she had hidden her identity from her children because she probably doesn't want them to feel any different from her, since she knows what it's like to be different and to be made fun of for being different.
I agree with you. Ruth has grown from her experience as a child and is raising her children so they don't have to face being made fun of like she had to. I also agree that this could be the reason she hid her identity from her children. She definitely doesn't want her children to feel like they are different, she wants them to feel like they are accepted. But, I also think she could be hiding her identity and reassuring her children that she is just like them because she doesn't want them to feel bad for her or be afraid for her. She wants them to think she is just like them and that she is in no danger, although she could be because of the terrible segregation of that time period.
Delete"Tateh had absolutely no love for her. He would call her by any name and make fun of her disability. He'd say, 'I get sick to look at you,' and, 'why do you bother trying to look pretty?' His marriage was a business deal for him." (page 41)
ReplyDeleteThis quote stuck out to me because it shows me why James' mom is quiet and sad all the time. Along with a father that didn't love his family and was only with them to stay in America, James' mom had to grow up watching a forced, un-loving, and hurtful relationship. She had to watch her mother constantly be put down by her father and she couldn't do anything about it. They were constantly moving from place to place because her father couldn't hold a job, and he held the reins in the family. He had no regard for his kids and especially his wife, and I think James' mother was changed drastically as a person because of it.
I agree with you because not having a father figure can also be the cause on why she is so independent and fearless. Although she learned from the mistakes her parents made. Her past has a huge impact on who she is, which could be the reason why she decides to put her past behind her. Fear to being like her father unloving and cold hearted.
Delete"I had no idea who the Black Panthers truly were. I had swallowed the media image of them completely." (Pg 36)
ReplyDeleteI feel like this quote really sums up how James feels violence through racism. He is always hearing from everyone that white people are the cause of all problems. He sees the segregation. He also sees people fighting back against racism. Many African-Americans at this time would be cheering them on. But James seems to feel nothing but fear for his mom. He is constantly on edge about her safety, as she walks throughout dangerous neighborhoods, as this old white woman. But most of his fear (aside from the mugging) comes from the media. He sees all these things, but hasn't gotten too close and personal with all of the protesters. He doesn't know how they might feel towards his mother, but he knows that they have used violence against white people. So he gets scared about something he heard from others, which I feel is where his fear is centered.
" 'Jesus is all colors.'
ReplyDelete'Then why is he white? This looks like a white man to me.' " page 41
This quote stood out to me because just before this, James' mom had told James that God is the color of water. Since their mother told them that, I think that it was harder for James to comprehend that God might be white because his mom said otherwise. Maybe now James will doubt his mom for a while because he thinks she lied. For James, and Richie his brother, it really matters if God is black, or white. Depending on what color James and Richie depicts God as, influences how they think God might see them. I think they might rather God to be no color, or the color of water, because they are black, and their mom is white. This way they could be sure that God loves everyone.
I agree. I think that the mom has moved on from judging people for their color or race, but her children have not. Therefore, she is trying to help them by dismissing the idea of someone being a certain color by saying that God is the color of water.
Deletei agree with both off you because since they are little they dont seem to get the bigger picture in life and because of this dont realize what his mom is trying to tell them. God is different colors because that is the way we think of God. To every person God is different and in diiferent forms as well.
Delete"His marriage was a business deal for him. He only wanted money. That and to be American. Those were the two things he wanted, and he got them too, but it cost him his family, which he ran into the ground and destroyed." (page 41)
ReplyDeleteThis quote stood out to me because it made me think about the way she is raising her children compared to the way she was raised. It is clear her father only wanted money, and had no love for his family. But, Ruth's view on life is "You don't need money. What's money if your mind is empty" (page 33). Ruth didn't love her father, and was terrified of him, and so it would make sense that she wants the exact opposite for her children. She doesn't value money while that was the only thing her father valued. This makes me wonder if she genuinely believes money is insignificant or if she has the belief only because it is the opposite of what her father believed.
Really great question and I feel like maybe her opinion of money might have to alot with her father and his view on things. In the real world our parents points of view affect how us as children view things just like her experience with death. I think that her dad had alot to do with her mindset espcially since he abandoned her when she needed him the most
Delete“She kept the religious traditions of a Jewish housewife and was loyal to her husband, but Tateh had absolutely no love for her. He would call her by any name that made fun of her disability. He'd say, 'I get sick to look at you,' and, 'why do you bother trying to look pretty?' His marriage was a business deal for him. He only wanted money. That and to be an American. Those were the two things he wanted, and he got them too, but it cost him his family, which he ran into the ground and destroyed.”
ReplyDeleteThis quote seemed very important to me, because it gives a lot of reasoning to why James' mom is obsessed with family. Throughout the book, one of the main things that she talks about is money being useless without education and family. Now, you begin to see how her old life influenced her new one, marked by her new name. For example, in this quote, she talks about how her family was torn apart because her father did not have any love for her or the rest of her family, because all that he cared about was money. Now, one of the main things that she says is that money is useless without education and family. It is now clear that this is because of the fact that, in her past life, she had no family, but a lot of money.
"Mommy loved God." -Page 45
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting the author was able to mention this. As you read along, the mother sort of changes her perspective in things. I feel like as she was brought up as a child her family was very religious, they were Jewish Orthodox which is the most religious of all the Jews. She seemes to have no one but herself and god to rely on because her dad left her alone just because she didn't married who he believed should marry her. It shows that she had a lot of faith in god because without him she probably wouldn;t have been able to through everything she went through. Poeple tend to rely on god when things get hard because thats the only way to explain the unrealistic and hard things ti understand.
"As a boy he believed he was neither black nor white but rather green like the comic book character the Incredible Hulk."
ReplyDeleteThis quote stood out to me because I could see how relatable this quote was. For any kid, when you're having a bad day, or something isn't good, you like to zone out and pretend you're your favorite role model or super hero and wish that their life was yours. WIth 11 other siblings and a mother that refused to talk about anything but God, church / religion, and education, in a way, I think that by believing that he (Richie) was the Hulk, it gave him an identity and individual personality. Earlier in the book, there was a part where James mentioned that there were times when his mother would try to get everyone's attention, and with 12 kids, simply address them as "whatever your name is". It's also kind of cute, it's like a childish belief that Richie eventually grew out of but his little kid brain made the world seem so much better and even though he didn't exactly know who he was, or what exactly the difference was between black and white, instead of being either of the two, he took his favorite and decided to be green.
I completely agree with you when you say: "I think that by believing that he (Richie) was the Hulk, it gave him an identity and individual personality." This may also relate to the part where Richie convinces James that he is adopted. I think he does this for a similar reason, to make James feel as though he is not apart of the family because there are 11 other kids and it is hard to make yourself stand out as an individual in this environment. I believe that Richie has low self esteem and uses this Hulk character, or the putting down of James, to make himself feel better or special.
Delete“Such as getting in bed with me at night and doing things to me sexually that I could not tell anyone about” (page 42).
ReplyDeleteShe has a rough past and that has shaped the person she is. This explains why she doesn’t care if black people look at her or say things about her. Also I think this is why she told her kids how to be strong and not let people get to her. This also why she does not have a close relationship with her father she doesn’t have any good memoires. This is why she left them because she went through a rough childhood in which she didn’t have a fatherly figure. She has a lot of pain because her father was never the figure she needed and she rater leave and be with a man who treated her right.
I agree, her rough past did shape her to be the person she is. I think to her the difference in skin color is a little thing, she probably doesn't think that it means much to her. I think she thinks there is more important things in life.
Delete“Happy people did not seem to cry like she did. Mommy’s tears seemed to come from somewhere else, a place far away, a place inside her that she never let any of us children visit, and even as a boy I felt there was pain behind them” (50).
ReplyDeleteThis line stood out to me because of how the narrator even at an early age could tell the emotions his mother was going through. I think her sadness and pain stem from her horrible childhood where she was abused and always on the move. Another part of this quote that stood out to me was that she closed off her emotions from her children. I think this is because she was the only real role model for the kids and she didn’t want to show weakness. Also she probably didn’t want to have to acknowledge these memories that gave her pain.
I completely agree with you- his mom chose not to show too much about her feelings to her kids. This might've affected many things for her.
Delete"I was real conscious of that. Being Jewish and having a handicapped mother.” pg 38
ReplyDeleteI think this relates back to when Rachel said her mother was the only one she didn't do right by. This important because I think that this is what led her to be quiet about her father's sexual abuse. She didn't want to put her mother through any more pain, and she thought that because of her background, no one would care anyway. I think the reason she tells James to keep details about their family to himself is because of how traumatized she was by this whole experience. To me, this shows that the way she raises her kids is out of shame of this reality. She doesn't want to admit the way she treated her mother and was treated by her father.
"That name stuck with me for a long time. 'Jew Baby.' You know it's so easy to hurt a child." (p.40)
ReplyDeleteThis line stood out to me because I agree with what she is saying. It is very easy to hurt a child, but why? I think it is because children try so hard to, somewhat subconsciously, identify themselves as individuals and make friends, accommodate for the simple responsibilities they are given. When you are being called "Jew Baby," by others, it would make a child feel like they are not accepted by their peers, they are different and an outcast. It would hurt a child if they felt as though others thought poorly of them, and they would wonder if it is their fault. When you don't truly know who you are yet, you might be influenced by what other people tell you. A child may think to themselves, "I am a jew baby, is that bad? Can I change? I will never have any friends because I am a jew baby."
"Mommy loved God."(page 45)
ReplyDeleteThis line stood out to me because we are learning about religon in history class. Religon is ofton turned to when a person is in a wishing state. We pray for things to get better. But to say we need better things implys that we have seen the worser sides of life as well. Since the mother is religos this says something must have happened to her. Also she was raised Jueish and converted. I think that religous veiws will play a big part in this book, witch ties so nicely to what we are doing in our other class.
Great connection Sabine! I did not notice this. It's very convient and I feel as though the fact that these two subjects are connecting through this book, we can get a better grasp on both subjects.
Delete"She kept the religious traditions of a Jewish housewife and was loyal to her husband, but Tateh had absolutely no love for her. He would call her by any name that made fun of her disability. He'd say, 'I get sick to look at you,' and, 'why do you bother trying to look pretty?' His marriage was a business deal for him. He only wanted money. That and to be an American. Those were the two things he wanted, and he got them too, but it cost him his family, which he ran into the ground and destroyed.” (pg.41)
ReplyDeleteThis quote is very intense. It is shocking how much lack of respect for his good wife he posseses. He is never satisfied and a violent, abusive, and disgusting man. He married for money, nothing more and his loyal and just wife has to just sit there and take his abuse because their is no way out. By marrying for money verses love, he has become a ruthless tyrant in the lives of his poor wife and abused and mistreated his young children to the point that they are ruined emotionally and want nothing more than to be free oof him.
"Jesus is all colors"
ReplyDelete"Then why is he white? He looks like a white man to me."
This quote stood out to me because I think it says a lot about racism. Jesus is typically seen as kind of a higher power, or someone who's better than most typical humans. For him to be described as "all colors" would make sense, because he's supposed to represent a huge group of people, even through he does appear to be white. In this time period racism was a huge issue both in the book and in the world, and this quote shows how much race mattered to people, even through it shouldn't.
You make a great point and it is a lot about racism. This just tells you how harsh and how racist people were back then.
Delete"...usually when the congregation was singing one of her favorite songs, like 'We've Come This Far by Faith' or 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus', she would bow down her head and weep. It was the only time I ever saw her cry."- page 50
ReplyDeleteSo far in the book, Ruth has been the strong woman in the family. By herself, she raises twelve black children while she is light-skined. However, when she listens to these songs, emotions come to her. Her past has shaped the person who she is now but it is and will be in her memory for the rest of her life even if she tries very hard to forget it. She's been through so much that I think she needs to be tough and unaware to not break down in front of her kids. Religion and God is all what she has to keep her believed in and keep going for her children. To her, the songs are not only describing her life but the titles also do that. "We've Come This Far by Faith" describes her life very well.
"God is the color of water. Water doesn't have a color. "
ReplyDeleteThis line stood out to me because it had a very strong belief and message. This shows how the mom didn't care what color the people were and weren't like other whites. It's stating that God doesn't have a color and he loves everyone equally and doesn't favor anyone. The mom believed in equality and was not racist.
I love the quote that you used, James even named the book after that quote. You explained it really well, and I love the way that you incorporated the different races into the book, that never even crossed my mind!
DeleteKatya Bakal-Schlomann
ReplyDelete"I can't stand feeling stuck or trapped in a place." (p.42)
This quote makes me wonder about why Ruth was so claustrophobic and disliked being trapped. It also made me wonder why she loved to run because running and being trapped are opposite, and yet often tied together, especially in her case. Ruth probably always felt trapped and stuck and therefore felt a need to run and be free. Ruth was stuck in her father's strict world of working at the store, and doing whatever he demanded. Ruth also must've loved running because she grew up in a house with many issues. First, her father sexually abused by her father, second, her family wasn't very close with no hugging. Ruth ran away from her father whom she feared. She ran away from all her problems instead of facing them, almost leaving a burden on her, why she didn't want to speak about or even remember her past. She doesn't want to feel guilty about leaving.
"Tateh had absolutely no love for her. He would call her by any name and make fun of her disability. He'd say, 'I get sick to look at you,' and, 'why do you bother trying to look pretty?' His marriage was a business deal for him." p 41
ReplyDeleteThis line really stood out to me because it shows why the Mom acts the way she does around her kids. It's because her parents showed cruelty and neglect towards her so she subconsciously acts the same way around her kids because thats how she was brought up. This is the answer to why she is so conservative when it comes to her feelings and her background. She was afraid of people judging her and to overcome her fear she is extremely independent and stopped caring about what other people think. However her past lingers and inflicts the way she brings up her children.
"God is the color of water. Water doesn't have a color. "
ReplyDeleteThis line stood out to me because it had a very strong belief and message. This shows how the mom didn't care what color the people were and weren't like other whites. It's stating that God doesn't have a color and he loves everyone equally and doesn't favor anyone. The mom believed in equality and was not racist. This also shows one of the main conflicts of the book which was that there was discrimination in people's colors. White people were superior to the other colors, but Ruth looked past all of these beliefs.
"What color is God's spirit?"
ReplyDelete"It doesn't have a color," she said. "God is the color of water. Water doesn't have a color."
This line stands out to me a lot, especially since it reflects the title of the book. Ruth is saying in a figurative way how God doesn't go by race, that he relates to and loves everyone, whether they're black, white, pink, orange, it doesn't matter to Him. That's why she's so strong about her faith and relationship with God. James is still trying to understand what she means, being so young and confused in his life, but soon gets to realize this is an imporant part of his life- his religion. Why does Ruth sort of "beat around the bush" with her children about her devotion? Why's it so hard to be straight-forward and just tell her kids why God is so important to her? What's making her hold back? Her childhood experiences? Is she afraid they'll follow in her footsteps?
"Mommy loved God."
ReplyDeletePage 45
This quote stands out, due to the fact that Ruth grew up under the influence of Judaism. I think that she was trying to run as far away from her past, the same way she ran away from home. She s trying her best to forget about those years of her life by changing her name, running away, marrying two black men, getting pregnant at the age of 15 and the most important, converting to the catholic religion. I think that she was doing everything that her father hated or was against, to try and forget about her past even more.
"Mommy took great pride in our relationship with God"
ReplyDelete- Man, the way this book captures a religious family. This line stood out to me because these chapters took a lot of time talking about religion and church and really showing how much faith everyone has. It says a lot about Ruth and reveals a little bit about her background, where she came from. She's always come from heavy believers in god, she's always been going to church. It also somewhat shows the kind of person she is emotionally in my opinion, because, (and i know this is the case for many people) it shows how much she needs god, and to feel like someone is taking care of her and watching over her, to give her just a hint of happiness and feeling of importance. Which she never had as a kid, with her abusive father.