Diversity Book Club 12pm The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to his White Mother by James McBride

The Fall 2025 season continues Nov. 23 at 12pm in the Lakeside Room with The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to his White Mother by James McBride. First published in 1995, The Color of Water tells the story of McBride and his white, Jewish mother Ruth. Ruth was born in Poland and raised in Suffolk, Va, the daughter of an itinerant rabbi and a loving, disabled mother who spoke no English. At 17, Ruth fled the South, landed in Harlem, married a black man in 1941, founded a church, was twice widowed and raised 12 children in New York City. Despite hardship, poverty, and suffering, Ruth sent all 12 of her children to college.

The Diversity Book Club is a ministry of St. James’ Racial Justice and Reconciliation Commission. The discussions are held at noon in the Toppie Bates Lakeside Room and are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Judy Holmes (judyholmes76@gmail.com) or Meg Osborne (mhosborne7@gmail.com).