The Color of Water (Pgs. 58-111)

Summary:

This portion of The Color of Water opens up by identifying racial clashes, particularly between Whites, Blacks, and Jews alike. Blacks would run and hide low key when the Klan showed up, while Jews were perplexed because they weren't necessarily favored by the Klan either. The theme of "best fit" is continued in the McBride house; one's power was derived from who one could order around. Food became a mention-worthy subject, as he describes that tension rises among him and his siblings over food. McBride's siblings all had distinct interests, for instance, Dennis wanted to become a Medical Doctor, whereas Helen was the most artistic of his sisters. Helen also, however, quit playing the piano for the church choir and also quit school. She declared that, "The white man's education is not for me" (McBride 73), when in reality, this was a very eccentric way of looking at eduction.

Quote:

"Looking back, I realize that I never felt any kinetic relationship to Jews" (McBride 86).

Reaction:

Amazing! Although, this was evident from the beggining,  McBride did not really relate to Jews or their culture and their traditions. James admitted not being able to stand those 'Holy Sabbath' rituals, where he was to do nothing but sit around all day long. Actually, Jews did not seem like a proud bunch of people, as they changed their Jewish names upon arriving America. However, when we take into consideration the hisorical events happening during this time, it is probably in any Orthodox Jew's best interest to keep a low profile, if any profile as a jew at all. I'm asuming that events such as the Nazi genocides of Jews were occuring during the early to mid 1900s.