· James McBride related his biography at the same time of his mother’s to make the readers realize that for one to realize the present he needs to understand the past first and that self-reliance and determination are very significant to a person’s success, the first one, being demonstrated by James himself and the other by James and his mother, Ruth.
· The book is very interesting for it poses an awareness concerning the importance of one’s origin and experiences to the present situation. It was Jame’s quest for his mother’s past which made him realize everything about her and above all, himself. His racial identity had troubled him ever since and that he could not go on with life for confusion and inferiority manifest in most of his dealings with others, his profession and life as a whole. The realization of his mission – finding out his mother’s past, led him to his acceptance of his mixed race and to his embracing of life and humanity (http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/colorofwater/section8.rhtml). Moreover, the author imparts a story which defines the essence of a mother. All of his mother’s sacrifices, like working alone to support all the twelve children, enduring racial prejudice as she lives with the blacks despite her being white, teaching her children the importance of good education and hard work, managing the household without anybody’s help and others are incomparable. Her steadfastness as she deals with every trial that comes along her way made her appear admirable and may boost any mother’s faith as the latter reads and understands the story.
· The methods of socialization which surface in the story are modeling, identification and nurturance. Ruth models to her children the value of self-reliance, patience, tolerance and above all, great faith in God by means of working hard for all of them, bearing the responsibility of raising her children all by herself, exhibiting patience as she teaches them acceptance and tolerance of racial prejudice and making them understand the value of trusting in God as they face life’s trials. She demonstrates her words “God is the color of water,” by loving and dealing well with the people in her community regardless of their skin color and religion. Identification is illustrated in the story as James realizes his mother’s miserable past, an event which leads him to ascertaining himself and to embracing her beliefs. Nurturance surfaces as Ruth disciplines her children. When she learns that James is into drugs and theft she helps her child by sending him to his sister’s place. It is an act that leads to Jame’s involvement with Chicken Man who despite his bad influence has made James understand the importance of bravery and acceptance of God. Further, when Ruth lovingly speaks to Helen to come back home after the child has run away, she exemplifies nurturance as well as when she makes her children bear the hardship of commuting from the community to the Jewish school for the sake of the children’s better education.
· As a future teacher, the book made me understand the importance of exercising fairness to each student and parents whom I will be dealing with. It gave me an idea that children learn effectively as values taught are modeled and that students themselves are nurtured. Punishing them for the fault committed would not make sense unless they are made to understand the value of the punishment and the motive behind it. Demonstration of the beliefs and principles taught make them visible, thus, students will have a full grasp of them and may eventually apply the ideas as the learners go through life.
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