- 1. The Color of Water by James McBride is a poignant memoir that explores the complexities of race, identity, and family through the author's unique lens as the son of a Black father and a Jewish mother. The narrative oscillates between McBride's own experiences growing up in a racially diverse but economically challenged environment and his mother's remarkable life story, which unfolds from her childhood in a Jewish family in Poland to her subsequent conversion to Christianity and her life as a single mother raising twelve children in America. The book delves into themes of cultural dislocation, the quest for belonging, and the deep bond between a mother and son, all while addressing the contradictions of race in America. Ruth McBride Jordan, James's mother, emerges as a powerful figure whose resilience and unwavering faith significantly influence her children's lives, inspiring them to rise above the challenges of their mixed heritage. Through vivid storytelling and a heartfelt narrative that bridges two worlds, McBride not only honors his mother's legacy but also reflects on his own journey of self-discovery, ultimately conveying a universal message about love, acceptance, and the quest for one's identity.
What is the name of James McBride's mother?
A) Ruth McBride Jordan
B) Andrew McBride
C) Rachel Shilsky
D) Dennis McBride
A) New York City
B) Germany
C) North Carolina
D) Poland
- 3. What was the original family name of Ruth's Jewish family?
A) Levi
B) Cohen
C) Goldstein
D) Shilsky
- 4. What was the profession of Ruth's father, Fishel Shilsky?
A) A rabbi
B) A teacher
C) A farmer
D) A shopkeeper
- 5. In what state did the Shilsky family settle and run a store?
A) New York
B) Pennsylvania
C) Maryland
D) Virginia
- 6. Why did Ruth eventually break ties with her Jewish family?
A) Racism and abuse from her father
B) She was disowned for going to college
C) A political disagreement
D) She converted to Islam
- 7. Who was Ruth's first husband?
A) Andrew Dennis McBride
B) James McBride
C) Fishel Shilsky
D) Hunter Jordan
- 8. How many children did Ruth have in total?
A) Ten
B) Eight
C) Fourteen
D) Twelve
- 9. What instrument did James McBride play?
A) Piano
B) Trumpet
C) Guitar
D) Saxophone
- 10. Where did James go to college?
A) Howard University
B) Columbia University
C) Oberlin College
D) Julliard
- 11. What was the name of the black power organization James became involved with as a teenager?
A) The Black Panthers
B) The Nation of Islam
C) SNCC
D) The NAACP
- 12. What was the name of Ruth's second husband?
A) Andrew McBride
B) James McBride
C) Fishel Shilsky
D) Hunter Jordan
- 13. What tragic event deeply affected young James's life?
A) The death of his stepfather
B) Being expelled from school
C) His mother's illness
D) A house fire
- 14. What was a major factor in James's struggle with his identity as a youth?
A) His musical ambitions
B) Not knowing his father
C) Being biracial in a divided society
D) His family's poverty
- 15. What did Ruth value most for her children?
A) Artistic talent
B) Wealth
C) Education
D) Religious devotion
- 16. What significant journey did James take as a young man to learn about his mother's past?
A) He went to Poland
B) He visited Israel
C) He traveled to Suffolk, Virginia
D) He tracked down relatives in New York
- 17. How did Ruth's family react to her marriage to a black man?
A) They helped raise the children
B) They disowned her
C) They were indifferent
D) They were supportive
- 18. What was the original name of James McBride's mother?
A) Ruth Johnson
B) Rebecca Davis
C) Ruchel Dwajra Zylska
D) Rachel Deborah Shilsky
- 19. What was the religion of Ruth's family?
A) Catholicism
B) Atheism
C) Protestantism
D) Orthodox Judaism
- 20. What was the name of the store Ruth's family owned?
A) Shilsky's Grocery Store
B) Jordan's Market
C) The Suffolk General Store
D) The Red Front
- 21. What religion did Ruth adopt as an adult?
A) She became atheist
B) She remained Orthodox Jewish
C) Islam
D) Christianity
- 22. In what neighborhood did James primarily grow up?
A) Queens
B) The Bronx
C) Red Hook, Brooklyn
D) Harlem, Manhattan
- 23. What was Tateh's (Ruth's father) greatest fixation?
A) Religion
B) Money
C) His health
D) Social status
- 24. What was the name of Ruth's mother, who was disabled?
A) Hudis
B) Esther
C) Rachel
D) Sarah
- 25. As a young woman, Ruth found community and acceptance in what part of New York City?
A) Harlem
B) The Bronx
C) Brooklyn
D) Queens
- 26. What was the title of Andrew McBride's church?
A) New Brown Memorial Baptist Church
B) Red Hook Ministry
C) First Baptist Church of Harlem
D) Shilsky Temple
- 27. What is the significance of the book's title, 'The Color of Water'?
A) It was James's father's favorite saying
B) It was Ruth's answer for what color God is
C) It describes the Hudson River
D) It refers to a famous painting
- 28. Where did Ruth go to escape her family and start a new life?
A) Chicago
B) New York City
C) Boston
D) Philadelphia
- 29. What was the name of Ruth's beloved aunt who lived in New York?
A) Aunt Sarah
B) Aunt Betty
C) Aunt Helen
D) Aunt Mary
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