Circle of Sisters Book Club

The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride

January 29th

James McBride explores his mother Ruth McBride Jordan’s complex identity and his own upbringing in a compelling narrative. Ruth, a “light-skinned” woman who avoided discussing her ethnicity, raised twelve Black children with steadfast love. McBride reflects on his chaotic childhood in the all-Black projects of Red Hook, Brooklyn, while uncovering his mother’s remarkable past. Born Rachel Shilsky in Poland, she fled anti-Semitism and racial tensions, settling in America where she married a Black minister and founded the New Brown Memorial Baptist Church. Through Ruth’s story and his own experiences, McBride creates a powerful exploration of race, identity, and family.