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...
"Excuses for not doing homework were not accepted and would draw a beating." (page 69)
ReplyDeleteThis line stuck out to me because after all the sexual abuse Ruth went through as a child, I wouldn't think she would do the same to her own kids. It makes me wonder if she is taking out her childhood angers on them. It makes me think: if she really loves her children, why would she put them through abuse after she's experienced it herself?
I agree, though I think that it is more because she greatly values education. I think that the sexual abuse she went through wouldn't really cause her to not beat her kids. Her father had his own sick reasons for doing what he did, but I think that Ruth did it so her kids would be more focused on school, because she wants them to pursue their education.
DeleteI agree with both you and Stefan, though I think she wants something bigger for her kids than what they could see for themselves. Learning from her experiences, Ruth wants her kids to be educated and have a successful life than hers own. I feel like she is trying to protect them and helping them on the right path that they for whatever reason too blind to see under all the tension that is going on during the time.
Delete"but in those days, people used guns to hunt and live. this was the thirties, the depression, and folks were poor and they used guns and fishing rods to survive."- chapter 7
ReplyDeleteBased on what i have chosen as a quote to use, you can see how things can really change over time. Its simply a way of life for things to change and in this case, you can see how something highly beneficial turned into something that is utilized as a killing machine. I guess that's how things are in the world; the most innocent of things can turn into the exact opposite due to changes amongst the outside world. The people in our world have a great influence upon each other mostly due to the ever-changing environment around them that causes such a surge of influentiality. It is truly astounding how things can change so much that they are in no way reminiscent of their former capabilities. These days, one's purpose is highly subject to change.
“Tateh hated black people. He’d call the little children bad names in Yiddish and make fun of their parents, too. “Look at them laughing,” he’d say in Yiddish. “They don’t have a dime in their pocket and they’re always laughing.” But he had plenty of money and we were all miserable. My brother Sam, he couldn’t take it and ran off as soon as he got big enough.”
ReplyDeleteThis quote stood out to me, because it shows Ruth’s ideas about money and happiness begin to develop. She has a father, who is basically rich in her town, who runs a miserable family. Then she sees this African American community who is poor, living in small, waterless shacks, at the edge of town, who seem to be rich in happiness and laughter. She seems to want nothing more then to be in their place, but her father sees them, and mocks their happiness. He says that, because they are poor, they shouldn’t be happy. I think that Ruth is beginning to see that money is useless without happiness, which then inspires her later life, of putting her family first.
I agree and I also think that Ruth may envy them. She realized money can't bring you happiness, but a loving family can. As Ruth notices the black people go to church she says, "They seemed to have such purpose come Sunday morning. Their families were together and although they were poor, they seemed happy." This shows how Ruth is feeling purposeless and unhappy; she almost envies the blacks. This could also be a reason that brought her to church, to give her purpose.
DeleteKatya
I totally agree with both of you, money can't buy happiness and Ruth and her entire family except her father hate their lives.
DeleteKatya Bakal-Schlomann
ReplyDelete"That's how life was for the blacks down there. A dead end" (p.61)
This stood out to me because it seems that the blacks have a parallel to Ruth. Ruth is so stuck in her fathers world, and in her fears and issues, that it's like she's at her dead end. She did the same things everyday, besides the sabbath: work, go to school, work. Ruth must have wanted change, to escape from her dead end. Change is necessary, but Ruth changed directions the wrong way. Instead of escaping the dead end, she ran away from it. She ran away from her strict life and her problems. Ruth is avoiding her problems which could easily catch up with her. If she stood up for herself she would've overcome her fears. Even as a grown up she tried to ignore her issues. For example she ignored the man who stole her purse. She acted like nothing even happened. Ruth will have to overcome her issues instead of run away from them if she wants to go through the dead end.
I totally agree with you. Ruth seems so calm and unaware of her surroundings. It's like she's blocking everything bad that has ever happened to her out of her life, but in reality she knows sooner or later she will have to face her problems. You made a good point about her meeting her dead end and not escaping it just yet.
Delete"My brothers and sisters were my best friends, but when it came to food, they were my enemies." page 50
ReplyDeleteThis quote stood out to me because it demonstrates how unfortunate James and his family really was when it came to wealth. James says this when he talks about fighting over food with his twelve siblings because there was little to go around. This quote shows how when people are put in "life or death" situations, they forget about family or friendship, and subconsciously become selfish. Although, in Color of Water, it wasn't necessarily life or death, but competition for food. This just proves that humans are animals too, and will do anything for survival. It is good to have this animal instincts, because if the time is right, it might save your life. The fact that the kids even have to resort to this type of behavior and push aside the fact that they love each other, proves that they were regularly hungry and had little to eat.
I agree with your statement. I like your connection with the Lottery. People do tend to be this way and especially in James' family since they were poor and lacking food.
Delete"-in those days, folks got infections and lost their fingers and teeth like it was lunch."
ReplyDeleteI found this line interesting and funny but it gave me a good idea of what healthcare was like back in the 1900's. It also showed me that while being more outdoorsy and woodsy, people tended to get hurt more often. I found the comparison of "like it was lunch" pretty funny, lunch is a common thing now but back then it depended on how much food was available so I wonder if she means like she is saying it was very common or if it was more like a once in a while thing. I think it would be more common. Also, it shows that some people couldn't always afford false teeth, not too sure what the could do about lost fingers. Not really sure why this was stuck out to me but there was just something about it that seemed appealing. I think that this definitely shows how healthcare has gotten a ton lot better but also that it gives a pretty good idea of what money could get. If false teeth were like a new thing, being part of the crowd was important to her dad. Maybe people lost their teeth on purpose jjust to look fashionable. This gave me a view on what she might think about society seeing as she is a very practical person.
"Stay out of our lives. You've been out. Stay out. And she hung up on me, so there was nothing I could do for Sam but pray for him."-page 63.
ReplyDelete-This line stood out to me because once a choice is made there is no turning back. Being rejected my her own aunt, I wonder if Ruth ever fel like choosing to be no part of her past was a right decision. Even though she told us that she needed to run away from her dad and all the rules, I still think it must have been really hard for her to be separated with some of the closest people she had left, for example her mom. Learning that Sam was killed in WW2, I wonder if Ruth thought it was a wrong a decision for him to run away because there could be a chance he still alive. Did his death get her thinking about some of her own decisions and what would happen to her life onward?
I really like your in depth analysis about how was her decision to leave wrong not only for her mother, but now her brother. I agree with you and I think you made several interesting points here.
Delete“ “Please come home, Helen. This is no place for you to be. Just come on home.” The peephole closed.” pg 78
ReplyDeleteNot just this section, the whole entire scene stuck out to me. I found it strange that Ruth wanted a family so badly since her father didn’t care about family, only money, that one of her own children left her. I also wonder how Ruth was able to take care of all of those kids, especially without a lot of money. She may have done this because she didn’t want the kind of money her father had since he didn’t even care for his family.
I also felt that this was a really strong ending to the chapter and we felt how the mother did when her own daughter rejected her even when it wasn’t even her speaking.
This section stood out to me too! I like the analysis you did, it is very ironic that Helen rebelled and ran away, just like Ruth did, even though Ruth cared so much more about her family than her own parents did. I agree that this was a strong ending of the chapter, Ruth strikingly didn't fit in, she was completely shut out of her daughter's life.
Delete"Cursing was not allowed. We weren't even allowed to say the word 'lie,' we had to use 'story.'" pg. 69
ReplyDeleteThis line stood out to me because this house rule seems a little extreme-and unrealistic in a home eventually filled with 12 teenagers and preteens. I wondered why McBride's mother would be so strict about cursing. Their family was very religious, and so it makes sense that taking the lord's name in vain and all those Christian restrictions would be enforced. But the kids couldn't even say the word 'lie.' I think their mother was so adamant about not cursing because in general as a mixed race family they got enough insults hurled at them without calling each other names. Even Jews who were also treated badly would call black people deeply offensive slurs, with Tateh as the prime example. Ruth McBride probably knew her kids would experience lots of verbal hate, and so wanted to make sure they never hurt each other or anyone else in this horrible, degrading way.
I couldn't have said it better myself,I absolutely agree with it. I mean maybe things were different backk then, but in order to raise 12 children here at this time without letting them curse would be pretty hard. She was probably trying to show them that they are better than others
DeleteI completely agree also. I really liked how you put emphasis on the just because you are being treated a certain way doesn't mean you should treat others like that, I think it's something that rachel would really enforce, and especially at the time of the civil rights movement.
Delete"Their families were together and although they were poor, they seemed happy..- But he had plenty money and we were all miserable." (pg. 61)
ReplyDeleteThis line caught my attention because Ruth seems to want what the black folks had, although they were poor she had described them happier than what she ever was as a child. I believe this is the reason why she doesn't really care whether she's poor or wealthy as long as her kids continue to get educated and have some sort of faith in god. Honestly this can also relate to humans because a lot of times money doesn't necessarily bring happiness; precious moments seem to be more valuable because they can never be replaced. Which seems to be the point that Ruth tries to get across.
Matthew Baldwin
ReplyDelete"My brothers and sisters were my best, but when it came to food, they were my enemies. there were so many of us we were constantly hungry, scavenging for food in the empty refrigerator and cabinets."
This quote shows that the family was an every man for themselves kind of place. The mom came home late and left early, when she got home, the first in her purse ate and the last to it didn't. The home was a hide and seek for food, people needed to eat so they hide there food where and when they wanted/needed to. All of the hiding places though were known to the family of kids but you had to trust them. this quote shows the tough life of being in a large family with limited supplies of food.
I found this quote to be extremely interesting as well. I thought that it truly reflected the hardships for the family. The fact that they had to hide their food in order to assure themselves a meal, was baffling. However, what was more shocking was that instead of sharing, it was every "man" for themselves. It's quite odd because throughout the story, McBride has discussed his mother always telling them to be there for one another, yet they are doing the complete opposite here. It's quite confusing to see how some rules are taken directly to heart, and others are bent.
Delete"They don't have a dime in their pocket and they're laughing. But he had plenty money and we were all miserable."
ReplyDeleteThis quote helps to explain alot about the mother. The mother always stated to her children that money isn't anything without education. She tries to empahzise this because as a child she had plenty of money but wasn't happy with her life, however the black children were happy with their lives. In the world people sometimes have all the money and more but they aren't happy however there are those people that don't have much but are happy with what they have. Her father even disagreed with her marryiing a colored men, he was also racist towards them which she didn't really seem to understand that. Her life was pretty hard so far.
"He'd sit my mother next to the door and would say: watch the shvartses"pg. 59
ReplyDeletethis quote means a lot and shows many things in how the social class, was really looked at back then in the south. African-Americans were really looked at as the most absolute worst of people, and the Jews were only seen a little bit above them, and really instead of making peace with the people who were only a little down on the scale then them, they joined in, really thinking that if they ignored them and shunned them, that that would somehow raise them (the Jews) on the scale, or at least make them look not so bad in the eyes of the respected male, white Christians of that time. Also later on it said that Tateh was even marking up African Americans double the price, and he was even worried about them stealing from him, which shows how distrusted the African-Americans were at that time.
"Car after car drove by, so many it was like a parade. "What the heck is that?" Dee-Dee asked. "I don't know" I said."
ReplyDeleteThis line stood out to me because it showed how much that these girls didn't know about the world around them. And this was of no fault of their own, as we know from earlier chapters their father was a very close minded person and wouldn't want his children affiliating with anything that wasn't jewish. And this carries on through ruth's adulthood , she tells her children to include themselfs anything that has nothing to do with them
" 'You must be joking," Ma said, 'All my kids are A students'."
ReplyDeleteI found this quote to be extremely essential to the entire story. I feel as though this dialogue, stated by McBride's mother, only shows how present she was in her children's' lives. The fact that Helen was able to basically drop out of school without her mother having an ounce of acknowledgment, shows that she wasn't there for her children. In addition, she was extremely narrow-minded and shocked when the Dean of the school informed her of the news. Though she had been putting into place strict principles and rules for her children to follow by, she never was there to actually witness them execute the morals they were taught.
I completely agree with you; it's also really wrong how she was neglecting her kids like that.
Delete“Tateh hated black people” (61).
ReplyDeleteThis quote was significant for me because I think it shows one of the reasons why the mom married a black man. I think this because the mom hated her dad and to rebel against him she married a black man. Other actions in her life were taken because of the hatred of her dad, such as the mom converting to Christianity. Since her dad was Jewish she felt that converting would also be a rebellious act against him. The mom thinks that these actions are the only way to protest against her dad, which is why she does them. It is the only way she can through what her childhood was like.
I also wrote about this quote, I think that you explained your veiw on it really well!!! I also thought that she was trying to rebel against her parents by marrying two black men and to convert to christianity.
Delete"Their families were together and although they were poor, they seemed happy..- But he had plenty money and we were all miserable." (pg. 61)
ReplyDeleteThis quote stands out to me as significant because it shows how Ruth knows money can't buy happiness. Even at a young age, she knew that simple truth. She would rather have a poor family and be happy than be rich and be miserable. I think poverty brings families closer together while riches stretch them farther apart.
page 61
ReplyDeleteTateh hated black people"
This quote stood out to me, because Ruth ended up marrying TWO black men. I belive that she is trying to go against her father after all of his neglect and abuse. Ruth also converted to christianity, and her family were very religous Jews. I think that Ruth was trying as hard as she could to get away from her 'other life' by going against all of her parents belifs.
I agree with you, that she was trying to go against her father. She definitely wanted to get away from her father and her old family. Her marrying two black men is certainly a way she could do it. I also think her liking to run and running whenever she had the chance when she was a child was another symbol that she disliked her old life.
DeleteI agree I think that the way that she gravitated towards black men, and her father's hate of black people in general is no coincidence. She definitely holds some resentment towards him. Since she is afraid of him, I think that she is doing this as a passive way of rebelling against him.
Delete"Excuses for not doing homework were not accepted and would draw a beating." pg. 69
ReplyDeleteThis quote from the book stood out to me because it did not seem to me that she is taking out any anger on her children by beating them, but it is displaying her high expectations for her children and it shows that she cares that they get a good education and do well. I think she wants them to do their work and not fall behind, so that one day it would pay off and they would succeed, and I think this shows in the very beginning of the book when it says that some of her children were lawyers, doctors, etc. Her pushing her children payed off big time, and it was worth it.
I completely agree with you when you say "(...) but it is displaying her high expectations for her children and it shows that she cares that they get a good education and do well." She is doing this for her children's good because she cares about them. If the children didn't have the motivation of the possibility of getting beaten, to do their work, then they probably wouldn't. This connects to a trait that is consistent in most mothers, the desire for their children to succeed. Mothers want their children to do well, therefore push them, but when is there is limit to the "pushing?" Some mothers are said to be too strict or harsh, when what the really want is what they think is best for them. When is a mother "crossing the line?" This is an ongoing question that still exists today, and different limits apply to different circumstances.
Delete" "They don't have a dime in their pocket and they're always laughing." But he had plenty money and we were all miserable." (page 61).
ReplyDeleteThis quote stood out to me because it shows how money can't buy happiness. All Ruth's father wanted was money, but his family was miserable because of that. This could also be why Ruth thinks education is everything, not money. She wants her children to have a good family life, and she wants them to laugh, even if they are poor. The mind matters more than the material things, for they will make you happier.
I agree, I think she think being poor isn't a struggle. I think she raises her kids the same way just to show that money isn't everything.
Delete"I was always worried that Tateh's gun would go off and accidentally kill him while he was cleaning it." (page 59)
ReplyDeleteI think this quote is interesting because it shows that she still cares about her dad even though he was so bad to her. I think this is because it is always a child's instict to love her father. Also she always refers to him as Tateh witch means father, so she must still have some sort of mental bond with him. I wonder if he was ever a good father, I also wonder if he like the mom had some sort of desease, only mentally.
Hi Sabine, I agree! That's the same quote that I picked. Ruth cares about her dad a lot even though he doesn't care about her. Maybe is her respect for him as father, not because what he has done for her but because of that mental connection of a father and a daughter.
Delete"I was always worried that Tateh's gun would go off and accidentally kill him while he was cleaning it. Although I was afraid of him, I didn't want anything to happen to him." Page 59
ReplyDeleteI found this quote from the book really important because Ruth was constantly abused by her dad; therefore, she still had respect for him as a father. Even though he did all of these evil things to her that brought her so many problems, she still loved him and cared about him while he didn't even care what she was feelings and going through. I found this quote very powerful because if I was Ruth, I would want him to die because of all the mean things that he did to me, and brought so many trauma.
I almost did this quote and although I didn't think of your point I agree with it. You make a good argument about how she still respects someone who abuses her. It could possibly be that regardless of how he treats her she will always respect him because he is her father.
Delete"But what always struck me about black folk was that every Sunday they'd get dressed up so clean for church I wouldn't recognize them after. I liked that. They seemed to have such a purpose come Sunday mornings." (p.61)
ReplyDeleteThis quote stood put to me because it raises the question, why would Ruth like the purpose that African Americans possessed on Sundays? I think this is because she didn't really have a purpose, especially on Sundays, and she envied that experience. I think this is also one of the many things that attractive Ruth to Christianity later on in life, this purpose it gave you. This connects to people in the world, why do people desire to have purpose? I believe this is because it gives you a sense on belonging and a reason to live. The subconscious mind may say, if you have no purpose, then why are you still here?
"Excuses for not doing homework were not accepted and would draw a beating."
ReplyDeleteI think this line shows how Ruth was brought up. It seem like their was no love in her family. Her dad sexual abused her, she mentioned not being good enough for her mom and how her brother ran away. She taught them that only a few things matter in life and extra stuff like race is not important. To me Ruth doesn't really show love to her kids she just protects them, I wonder why? I the love she shows is a different kind of love just not affectionate.
"It seemed to me death was always around suffolk." (58)
ReplyDeleteBeing surrounded by death is far from living in a nice environment. To know that all over someone could turn on you quickly and kill you probably severely scares anyone. As they mention the Klu Klux Klan and how their black customers all went home out of terror it sparks the thought that maybe this is why Ruth decided to marry a black person instead of a white, Jewish person that her parents wanted.
"Tateh had no patience, and he;d often stop you in the middle of your verse to scold or slap you if you showed disinterest in the bible. Sometimes the scolding made you feel worse than the hitting. "You're stupid. You're nothing but a fool. A sinner. You're unredeemed before God," he;d say. Sam was his main target. He'd make Sam sit in the corner for hours and read Hebrew. He never showed any love towards his son." p 62.
ReplyDeleteThis quote stood out to me because it made me realize how strict he was about religion. It made me wonder why Rachel wasnt that strict with religion with her kids. In addition it stood out to me how her dad beat them if they showed disinterest to God. Lastly it really interested me as to why she said "sam" instead of her brother. It made me wonder if she wasnt that close with her siblings or if they just had a really bad relationship.
"That's how life was for the blacks down there. A dead end."
ReplyDeleteI think that this quote explains the hardships of racism that so many people had to go through at that time period. It isn't fair how one person's life could be completely different from someone else's, just because their skin colors are different. The context of this quote stood out to me a lot- the previous line was explaining what the African Americans' houses were like, and how you had to go down dead ends to get there. This might symbollize how hard it was for them to develop a new lifestyle after living there for a while.
"I wish some black kids today could see how black folks in Suffolk lived then. Shacks with no running water, no foundations, no bathroom outhouses. No paved roads, no electricity... That's how life was for blaks down here a dead end. They didn't complain about it."
ReplyDeleteThis quote stood out to me because it shows how bad blacks had it back then and that people should be thankful for what they have instead of wanting the things that u don't need. Life could be much worse for people so they should they should be happy with the life they already have because a lot of other people would want it.
"I was always worried that Tateh's gun would go off and accidentally kill him while he was cleaning it." PG:59
ReplyDeleteThis stands out to me because it shows despite her father's sexual abuse, she still has some love for him. she says that even though she feared him, she was concerned for him. Despite the horrible things that he did, she still saw him as her care taker. To me this says that what Ruth truly wanted was a good father figure, and since Tateh was the closest thing she had to one, she didn't want to lose him no matter how bad he actually was.
I absolutely agree with you, everything you pointed out I agree with. She had no choice but to care for this mean man. This is common in all children in this type of situation. I wonder why didn't she question the way he acted and abused her if he was a "rabbi", the "role model", the person everybody was supposed to look up to and praise. If anything he needed consequenses.
Delete"But he had plenty money and we were all miserable." -Page 61
ReplyDeleteThis quote stood out to me because Ruth showed that even if they had money, they weren't happy. She praised black people and liked how they were always together and were happy. Although, they were poor, they can be happy. Ruth's family had the money they needed but never found the happiness in their family. This reminded me of Angela's Ashes because although Frank's family was poor, they were able to be together as a family and go through their problems together. I think because Ruth's family didn't long for anything more, all her parents did was provide her with what was necessary for her existence, but never helped her love life, let alone LIVE it.
"Tateh hated black people. He'd call the little children bad names in Yiddish and make fun of their parents, too. 'Look at them laughing,' he'd say in Yiddish. 'They don't have a dime in their pocket and they're always laughing.' But he had plenty money and we were all miserable.
ReplyDeleteThis line really stood out to me while I was reading. Her father tried to brainwash their family, making them think that African-American people were these bad people, that they weren't accepted, but Ruth and even her brother, Sam knew otherwise. They couldn't process why their "Holy father" was so cruel and discriminal. They grew up in a world where segregation was necessary and correct, which Ruth was so smart to know otherwise. She knew that Tateh was completely wrong, and that's why she married a black man and had 12 black children and raised them in a black community. She wanted their poor happiness, not the rich sadness she was raised in, and that's what made all the difference in her life. She got the best/worst of both worlds, preferring the best.
"If you stood in front of the store and looked right, you saw the town-the railroad tracks, the department stores like Leggets and Woolworth."
ReplyDelete- Okay first I want to say that this line, while may not having a very deep connection emotionally with the story, stood out to me because of the visual mastery of it. It is a visually transcendent line, and maybe I'm being overly dramatic but it stuck with me. The image of that pharmacy was crystal clear, and for once, (people say this a lot, it's a very pretentious line) I felt like I was there. It also mildly captures the feeling of the time its in, with the railroad tracks and everything. I don't know if I'm going too far with this, but it's what I think, and I think it's brilliant.