The Issues of Education and Family in The Color of Water by James McBride - Essay Example

The Color of Water by James McBride One of the most renowned books in both the 20th and the 21st century is The Color of Water. The book has receivedworldwide acclamation owing to the author’s ability to review some of the most important concepts that people face on a daily basis through his life story. The memoir is written to his mother and seeks to show his tribute to her and his appreciation. Going through the themes brought out in the book is very important for it offers the reader an idea of the various issues surrounding society. Some of the outspoken themes to focus on are education and family. Education is one of the issues that has existed in modern society for a very long time. In the memoir, the theme of education is expressed where James McBride, the author, reviews the kind of education he received. James’ mother did not grow up with Jewish traditions. However, she was always intent on ensuring that her children received quality education. She always insisted that education was important in everybody’s life. She further told her children that money without education was useless. She told them this to ensure that they followed in the right step and not think that if they would get money, they would not need a good education. It is common that people who pay attention or rather who study a lot do not get time to familiarize themselves with “street education”. This is another form of education that not gained by attending classes or learning from someone. Rather than this, a person gains “street education” from talking to people in different areas and gaining general knowledge. James got this education by going to Louisville where he spent time during summers. During his time in Louisville, he frequented a place at the corner of a street where there was a chicken man that offered him advice on a regular basis. This chicken Man was a very noble person that did not have many complications as compared to many people that hold their businesses along streets. On the contrary, actually, this person was very informed and offered young James advice with the hopes of changing his perception regarding the streets James initially had the idea that street life or rather street businesses was a “cool” thing to do. This individual was effective in ensuring that James changed his perception regarding this entirely (McBride 37). He made him understand that the people that had opened the stalls in the streets had not done so out of their own willing. However, they had done this due to the lack of funds to open their businesses in more reputable positions or areas. Another concept widely executed in the memoir is regarding family. In an attempt to understand the relationship between family and education, it is important to know that family is the foundation for a certain lifestyle. The relationship between these two themes is explained in that it is the family love that led the mother to advise her kids on what to do with regard to education. Had the mother not cared enough for her children, she would have left them to lead their lives without caring about their futures. For the love of family, Ruth, the mother of the children, risked disowning by her birth family. This is because she decided to take her children through the education system and in particular the Jewish system that her parents were opposed. Ruth did this out of love for her children because she wanted them to have a successful life. However, this did not convince her parents who were very traditional at the time. As she explains her condition to her children, one cannot help but understand why she was so much for a family united by love. When growing up, Ruth states that she had a very troublesome life. She was once sexually abused by her father and ran away from home at the age of 18 never to go back again. Her father was a cruel person that beat up her mother and thus the reason why Ruth believed in teaching her male kids strict values. James’ family was very united and always went to church together. In church, they would pray for continued unity and success in each endeavor that each sought to tackle that week. Family was critical to James’ life. It is here where there is the ability to again compare the issue of education and family and recognize their relation. James states that his family was of a middle class and that his mother ensured that her children survived each day appropriately to improve in their lives. James goes further to state that his brothers and sisters were very close and that he enjoyed their company very much. According to him, they were so close that he considered them his best of friends. Another point that shows how close this family was is with regard to the manner in which they played numerous games to pass time (McBride 69). This was fun for the kids while still instilling creative skills in them that would assist them in education. The manner in which his mother loved her father is another point to show how well these people lived as a family. She depicts him as the kindest man she ever met. The two remained strong in love for 16 years until the tragic death of her husband. The two issues of education and family are two that are vividly connected as shown in the story of James. James clearly brings this out by portraying the fact that if it was not for the mother, she would not have got to the place he got in life. In their location and at their time, many children did not attend schools and rather just wasted away. The fact that his mother took the initiative to take them to school is a concept that shows how much a mother’s love can extend if really committed. The memoir clearly expressed this. Work Cited McBride, James. The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Read More