The Color of Water

explain the factors detailed in chapter 11 that prevent Ruth from assimilating into American society. please put a quote to

explain the factors detailed in chapter 11 that prevent Ruth from assimilating into American society. please put a quote to

Asked by
Last updated by Aslan
Answers 1
Add Yours

The idea of self-determination, in Ruth's view, transcended the idea of race. To her children, she insisted that it didn't matter what color they were if they were nobody, and urged them to concentrate on school grades and church. Ruth created a tiny microcosm of the world to keep her family safe, but as the children grew older, the household began to destabilize as the question of race began spreading through their lives. When James saw his mother retaliate against a storeowner who sold James spoiled milk and then insulted her, he began feeling increasingly ashamed of being seen with her in public. This echoes the shame Ruth experienced with Mameh, who could not speak English and was physically crippled. In the end, however, James states that his views changed: "[As a child] I would have preferred that Mommy were black. Now, as a grown man, I feel privileged to have come from two worlds." He recognizes that his hybrid identity and the uniqueness of his background invest him with the ability to express ideas that transcend race.

Source(s)

GradeSaver