Description

Note: This is not a reprint. The original paperback or hardcover edition has been purchased directly from the authorized distributor or publisher. The book purchased has been carefully bound in genuine leather to enhance its durability and extend its shelf life. Please be assured that no content or pages have been altered or reformatted during the leather binding process. Product Information: - Title of Product: The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother by McBride, James [Royal Edition] Author: McBride, James Number of Pages: 336 Publication Year: 2006 Language: English Book Synopsis: - From the bestselling author of Deacon King Kong and the National Book Award-winning The Good Lord Bird The modern classic that spent more than two years on The New York Times bestseller list and that Oprah.com calls one of the best memoirs of a generation. Who is Ruth McBride Jordan? A self-declared "light-skinned" woman evasive about her ethnicity, yet steadfast in her love for her twelve black children. James McBride, journalist, musician, and son, explores his mother's past, as well as his own upbringing and heritage, in a poignant and powerful debut, The Color Of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother . The son of a black minister and a woman who would not admit she was white, James McBride grew up in "orchestrated chaos" with his eleven siblings in the poor, all-black projects of Red Hook, Brooklyn. "Mommy," a fiercely protective woman with "dark eyes full of pep and fire," herded her brood to Manhattan's free cultural events, sent them off on buses to the best (and mainly Jewish) schools, demanded good grades, and commanded respect. As a young man, McBride saw his mother as a source of embarrassment, worry, and confusion--and reached thirty before he began to discover the truth about her early life and long-buried pain. In The Color of Water , McBride retraces his mother's footsteps and, through her searing and spirited voice, recreates her remarkable story. The daughter of a failed itinerant Orthodox rabbi, she was born Rachel Shilsky (actually Ruchel Dwara Zylska) in Poland on April 1, 1921. Fleeing pogroms, her family emigrated to America and ultimately settled in Suffolk, Virginia, a small town where anti-Semitism and racial tensions ran high. With candor and immediacy, Ruth describes her parents' loveless marriage; her fragile, handicapped mother; her cruel, sexually-abusive father; and the rest of the family and life she abandoned. At seventeen, after fleeing Virginia and settling in New York City, Ruth married a black minister and founded the all- black New Brown Memorial Baptist Church in her Red Hook living room. "God is the color of water," Ruth McBride taught her children, firmly convinced that life's blessings and life's values transcend race. Twice widowed, and continually confronting overwhelming adversity and racism, Ruth's determination, drive and discipline saw her dozen children through college--and most through graduate school. At age 65, she herself received a degree in social work from Temple University. Interspersed throughout his mother's compelling narrative, McBride shares candid recollections of his own experiences as a mixed-race child of poverty, his flirtations with drugs and violence, and his eventual self- realization and professional success. The Color of Water touches readers of all colors as a vivid portrait of growing up, a haunting meditation on race and identity, and a lyrical valentine to a mother from her son. With a new Introduction to this touching homage to his mother, the author paints a portrait of growing up in a black neighborhood as the child of an interracial marriage. Although raised an Orthodox Jew in the South, McBride's mother abandoned her heritage, moved to Harlem, and married a black man. Product Description: This exquisite book is crafted exclusively for discerning readers and collectors who seek to elevate and preserve their literary treasures. Bound in GENUINE LEATHER, it showcases the finest craftsmanship with luxurious GOLDEN LEAF DETAILING adorning the spine, front cover, and back cover. The elegance is further enhanced by EDGE GILDING, giving the book an opulent finish. Customize Your Leather-Bound Edition with Color Options: - 1. Select from a wide array of leather colors at no additional cost. Share your preferred leather color with us via email. 2. Choose from a diverse range of leather colors with colored marbles (endpaper), including Brown, Crimson Red, Forest Green, Royal Blue, Rich Black, Hot Pink, Yellow, And Tan . 3. For a truly unique touch, request Multi-Color Labels to complement your custom leather-bound book spine. 4. Own a timeless masterpiece that adds sophistication to any collection! Artisan Quality and Dispatch Information: - ● We appreciate your understanding that these Leather-Bound Books are meticulously crafted works of art, requiring significant time and attention to detail to achieve their exceptional quality. ● Our standard handling time for dispatch is 35 business days, as each book undergoes various stages of production. However, we do accommodate special & requests for specific occasions. ● We offer additional customization options upon request, subject to extra charges. Additionally, we handle both printing and leather binding for all books. ● Product Disclaimer : Please note that as Leather is a Natural Material, minor variations in color or texture may occur.