Claire Thompson
The death of Chicken Man is a reference to two different people. Gordon Williams, also known as Chicken Man, was a drug dealer in Atlanta who was falsely reported to be dead by the New York Times due to a contract hit. The other Chicken Man was Philip Testa, an Italian-American mobster and leader of the Philadelphia crime family. Testa was killed by a nail bomb blast at his home in South Philadelphia. Now, The Colors of Water is a memoir written by James McBride, which explores his upbringing by his white Jewish mother, Ruth McBride Jordan, in a predominantly black community. The memoir also delves into Ruth's past, her abusive father, and her journey from Poland to the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Book | The Color of Water |
| Author | James McBride |
| Genre | Memoir |
| Chicken Man | A friend of Big Richard's who teaches James all he knows about the streets and helps him turn his life around |
| Ruth McBride Jordan's Death | 9 January 2010, at her home in Ewing, New Jersey |
| Dennis' Death | Lung cancer |
| Hunter Jordan's Death | Stroke |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
James's life in Kentucky
James McBride's life in Kentucky was a significant turning point for him. After his mother, Ruth, was widowed for the second time, she struggled to cope with her grief and take care of her household. James, in turn, was unhappy being around the house and started sneaking out and staying out late. In response, Ruth sent him to Kentucky to live with relatives for a short time.
While in Louisville, Kentucky, James spent a lot of time with his uncle Jack's husband, Big Richard, and a group of men called "the boys on the Corner." James felt free running around Louisville, and the men on the Corner looked out for him. James describes the men as "good-natured alcoholics," who obeyed loose codes of ethics, such as not cheating at dice and only pulling out a gun if they intended to use it.
Among the men on the Corner, James's favorite was Chicken Man, a friend of Big Richard's. Chicken Man was endearing and intelligent, but he had wasted his potential, spending his days drinking on the Corner. James describes him as a sweet man, incoherent when drunk, and a minor philosopher when sober. Chicken Man taught James about the streets and helped him turn his life around. He warned James about the dangers of a life of crime and encouraged him to make something of himself.
James's time in Kentucky was pivotal in his life, as it was during this period that he began to reflect on his biracial identity and lean towards his African-American side.
Chick Waterers: How Many for 100 Chicks?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Chicken Man's influence on James
In the memoir, "The Color of Water", James McBride writes about his mother, Ruth Zylska, a white Polish Jewish immigrant who married Andrew Dennis McBride, a black man from North Carolina. James was the eighth child of Ruth and Dennis, and his father died of lung cancer before he was born.
After her husband's death, Ruth was devastated and struggled to support her eight children. She eventually met and married her second husband, Hunter Jordan, who died of a stroke when James was a teenager. Following his mother's devastation, James began to turn towards a life of crime and dropped out of school.
During this tumultuous time, James spent a summer in Kentucky, where he met Chicken Man, a friend of Big Richard's. Chicken Man was a drunk who became a minor philosopher when sober. He taught James about the streets and helped him turn his life around. James considered him his favourite among the "boys on the Corner", a group of blue-collar workers and hustlers who hung out in front of a liquor store.
Chicken Man cautioned James against seeking revenge on a former boss who had sexually harassed him, warning him that he would end up arrested and jobless. Despite James' protests that he was too smart for that, Chicken Man pointed out his failures in school and the need to spend summers away from New York. This influenced James to reflect on his life choices and the potential consequences, ultimately helping him avoid a life of crime.
Chickpeas' Carb Content: A Healthy Choice?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Ruth's grief after her second husband's death
In the memoir, *The Color of Water*, James McBride writes about his mother, Ruth McBride Jordan, a Polish Jewish immigrant and survivor of childhood sexual abuse. Ruth is described as a tough but big-hearted mother of twelve children, with unwavering faith in God and strong moral convictions. She is also a survivor, having endured a turbulent childhood marked by an abusive father and a meek mother.
Ruth's second husband, Hunter Jordan, dies from a stroke, leaving her devastated. After his death, Ruth struggles to maintain her household while emotionally falling apart. Her son, James, recalls that he didn't like being around the house with his devastated mother, so he started sneaking out and eventually stopped coming home and going to school. Ruth's grief is so profound that she is unable to escape it, even though she has previously coped with tragedies by locking away negative memories or physically running away.
The death of her second husband marks a turning point in James' life as well. With his mother growing more distant, James begins to turn towards a life of crime and starts flunking out of school. He is sent to Kentucky, where he meets Chicken Man, a friend of Big Richard. Chicken Man imparts wisdom on James, encouraging him to make something of himself rather than turning to a life of crime.
Chicken Man is described as endearing and intelligent, but he has wasted his potential by spending too much time drinking on the corner. Despite this, he is a positive influence on James, cautioning him against revenge plans that could lead to arrest. Chicken Man also provides James with a different perspective on race, as the men on the Corner are indifferent to white people and the police.
Overall, Ruth's grief after her second husband's death is profound and far-reaching, impacting both her emotional state and her relationship with her son, James. It also sets in motion a series of events that lead James to meet Chicken Man, a pivotal figure who helps shape his future.
McDonald's Crispy Chicken Snack Wrap: Carb Count Unveiled
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Ruth's childhood and family life
Ruth McBride Jordan, born Ruchel Zylska, was a Polish Jewish immigrant who arrived in the United States at the age of two. She grew up in an Orthodox Jewish family in Suffolk, Virginia, where her father, Fishel Shilsky, worked as a rabbi. Ruth had a difficult and traumatic childhood due to her abusive father, who sexually abused her and was harsh, demanding, and unloving. He was also racist and greedy, cheating on his wife and overcharging his customers in the family store. Ruth's mother, Hudis Shilsky, suffered from polio and was soft-spoken and meek, often deferring to Ruth's father. Despite her handicap, she was a loyal wife and a good mother to Ruth.
Feeling oppressed by her family and the Southern culture, Ruth left home at a young age, partly to escape her father and partly because she was pregnant by her black boyfriend, Peter, in Suffolk. She moved to New York to stay with relatives and later settled permanently in Harlem. Her family disowned her due to her relationship with a black man and her departure from Judaism. In Harlem, Ruth met and married Dennis, a violinist from North Carolina. Together, they opened the New Brown Memorial Church and had several children, including James, the author of "The Color of Water."
During her pregnancy with James, Dennis fell ill with lung cancer and passed away, leaving Ruth devastated. She struggled to support her eight children and was rejected by her relatives when she sought help. However, Dennis' family and friends stepped up to provide assistance and support. Soon after, Ruth met her second husband, Hunter Jordan, and they moved into a house he bought with his life savings. Unfortunately, Hunter passed away from a stroke, leaving Ruth to grapple with life and raise her children alone.
Ruth's childhood and early life were marked by trauma, family dysfunction, and personal losses. She endured sexual abuse, prejudice due to her interracial relationships, and the pain of losing her husbands at a young age. Despite the challenges, she was a tough, determined, and spiritual woman who stressed the importance of work, education, and faith in God to her children.
Protein Content in Panda Express Orange Chicken
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Ruth's first husband's illness and death
Ruth McBride Jordan, a Polish Jewish immigrant, was the mother of James McBride and eleven other children. Ruth's first husband, Andrew Dennis McBride, was a violinist from North Carolina. Ruth met Dennis in Harlem, and they fell in love. They got married, and Ruth converted to Christianity, becoming very involved with church activities.
The couple experienced prejudice due to their interracial marriage but recalled these years as their happiest. Together, they opened the New Brown Memorial Church. They had several children and eventually moved to accommodate their growing family. When Ruth was pregnant with their eighth child, James, Dennis fell ill with lung cancer. He died before James was born, leaving Ruth devastated.
Ruth struggled to support her eight children and asked her relatives for help, but they refused due to her interracial marriage. Despite her grief and challenges, Ruth persevered, demanding respect and hard work from her children while always treating them with tenderness. She placed significant emphasis on her Christian faith and family unity, instilling strong moral convictions in her children.
Exploring Guatemala: Daniel's Chicken Bus Adventure
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Chicken Man is a friend of Big Richard's and a member of the crew on the Corner. He is described as endearing, intelligent, and a minor philosopher when sober. He imparts wisdom into James' life, cautioning him against a life of crime.
After Hunter Jordan's death, James begins to turn towards a life of crime. He starts skipping school and eventually moves to Louisville, Kentucky, where he meets Chicken Man.
Chicken Man does not die in "The Color of Water." However, James' biological father, Dennis, dies from lung cancer before James is born, and Ruth's second husband, Hunter Jordan, dies from a stroke.
