James McBride Question

Nicolas  Siino

9/16/14

ENGW 1100 Writing Skills Workshop

Professor Rasheda Young

 

"What main point is McBride making about the concept of black power? Is it a concept, an identity, or an idea that defines him? Discuss why you feel this way."

 

 

                James McBride concept of black power is expressed in the fourth chapter of The Color of Water. The media portrayed the concept of black power as white against black.  This chapter deals with the whole issue of blacks fighting for pride and, more specifically, justice against white oppression. The "black panthers" were made out to be a violent group that were anti white.

                James was frighten by the concept of black power and felt that his mother was in constant danger from his fellow black man. His encounter with a black panther was when he boarded a bus for summer camp and left his white mother behind waving to him from the sidewalk.  James watched as a handsome, nicely dressed and sophisticated young boy said goodbye to his dad by performing the "dap" a black power soul handshake.  When the boy took his seat behind James on the bus someone asked where did you learn that handshake. The boy replied proudly, "My father taught me, he's a Black Panther." McBride feared his mother was in great danger because she was standing next to a black panther. He shouted for her out the window, but the bus pulled away. However, the father and James's mother never seemed to even notice each other. This just goes to show that the media portrayed  the black panthers as a powerful group that were against white people.

                James McBride is defined by his identity.  James had difficulty reconciling the rise of black power with the fact that his mother was white. James had to overcome certain obstacles in order to get to know himself. By analyzing his thoughts and emotions and he was able to discover where he fit into society.  People need to experiment with different groups of people in order to find out what the best fit is for them with relation to society . Your identity is something that defines and something you should always be proud of.