- 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) Dennis McBride
B) Ruth McBride Jordan
C) Rachel Shilsky
D) Andrew McBride
A) New York City
B) North Carolina
C) Poland
D) Germany
- 3. What was the original family name of Ruth's Jewish family?
A) Cohen
B) Goldstein
C) Levi
D) Shilsky
- 4. What was the profession of Ruth's father, Fishel Shilsky?
A) A farmer
B) A shopkeeper
C) A rabbi
D) A teacher
- 5. In what state did the Shilsky family settle and run a store?
A) Pennsylvania
B) Maryland
C) New York
D) Virginia
- 6. Why did Ruth eventually break ties with her Jewish family?
A) She was disowned for going to college
B) A political disagreement
C) She converted to Islam
D) Racism and abuse from her father
- 7. Who was Ruth's first husband?
A) Fishel Shilsky
B) Andrew Dennis McBride
C) Hunter Jordan
D) James McBride
- 8. How many children did Ruth have in total?
A) Ten
B) Fourteen
C) Eight
D) Twelve
- 9. What instrument did James McBride play?
A) Saxophone
B) Piano
C) Guitar
D) Trumpet
- 10. Where did James go to college?
A) Columbia University
B) Howard University
C) Julliard
D) Oberlin College
- 11. What was the name of the black power organization James became involved with as a teenager?
A) The NAACP
B) The Nation of Islam
C) SNCC
D) The Black Panthers
- 12. What was the name of Ruth's second husband?
A) Hunter Jordan
B) Fishel Shilsky
C) Andrew McBride
D) James McBride
- 13. What tragic event deeply affected young James's life?
A) A house fire
B) The death of his stepfather
C) Being expelled from school
D) His mother's illness
- 14. What was a major factor in James's struggle with his identity as a youth?
A) Not knowing his father
B) His musical ambitions
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) Religious devotion
C) Wealth
D) Education
- 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 tracked down relatives in New York
D) He traveled to Suffolk, Virginia
- 17. How did Ruth's family react to her marriage to a black man?
A) They disowned her
B) They were indifferent
C) They were supportive
D) They helped raise the children
- 18. What was the original name of James McBride's mother?
A) Ruchel Dwajra Zylska
B) Ruth Johnson
C) Rachel Deborah Shilsky
D) Rebecca Davis
- 19. What was the religion of Ruth's family?
A) Catholicism
B) Orthodox Judaism
C) Protestantism
D) Atheism
- 20. What was the name of the store Ruth's family owned?
A) The Red Front
B) Jordan's Market
C) The Suffolk General Store
D) Shilsky's Grocery Store
- 21. What religion did Ruth adopt as an adult?
A) Islam
B) Christianity
C) She remained Orthodox Jewish
D) She became atheist
- 22. In what neighborhood did James primarily grow up?
A) Queens
B) Harlem, Manhattan
C) Red Hook, Brooklyn
D) The Bronx
- 23. What was Tateh's (Ruth's father) greatest fixation?
A) Social status
B) Money
C) Religion
D) His health
- 24. What was the name of Ruth's mother, who was disabled?
A) Rachel
B) Hudis
C) Esther
D) Sarah
- 25. As a young woman, Ruth found community and acceptance in what part of New York City?
A) Brooklyn
B) Queens
C) The Bronx
D) Harlem
- 26. What was the title of Andrew McBride's church?
A) Red Hook Ministry
B) Shilsky Temple
C) First Baptist Church of Harlem
D) New Brown Memorial Baptist Church
- 27. What is the significance of the book's title, 'The Color of Water'?
A) It refers to a famous painting
B) It was James's father's favorite saying
C) It was Ruth's answer for what color God is
D) It describes the Hudson River
- 28. Where did Ruth go to escape her family and start a new life?
A) Philadelphia
B) New York City
C) Chicago
D) Boston
- 29. What was the name of Ruth's beloved aunt who lived in New York?
A) Aunt Betty
B) Aunt Mary
C) Aunt Sarah
D) Aunt Helen
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