Remake of Jesus - The Color of Water by Jesus GomezAcevedo-140001338

Personal Reflection

140001338 — 2024-01-23 20:33:41 UTC

In what ways was this chunk a window or a mirror? Use the following questions to guide your response, but really we want to hear your personal thoughts and reactions to this chunk!

What experiences do you share with the characters?
In what ways is your family similar or different from those in the book?
What did you learn about a character or group of people that you have not personally experienced?

1 - Considering that Rachel had twelve kids, compared to my family the difference in children is vast as there are only 3 kids in my family . My family compared to rachel's family is that my family has 1/4 of the amount of children she had. When James asks a question to Rachel she dodges them immediately changing the subject, although from what I remember I have not asked my parents too much questions about their past but the few times I did they would give me some responses. I honestly do not remember any time where my parents have been actively dodging certain questions when I ask them.

Social Issue

140001338 — 2024-01-23 20:33:41 UTC

Choose at least one of the following social issues that were present in this reading chunk. Discuss how this social force was present in a characters life. (Your response should be at least 5-6 sentences).

Social Class
Race/Ethnicity
Religion
Education
Culture
Health
Political Landscape

) Starting the book, "The Color Of Water", we can see that in the chapter, "Kosher", from Rachel's perspective we read that her mother's experience back in Europe was not pleasant. We can see that Jewish people were being persecuted by Russian soldiers, getting killed for being of Jewish descent.

Quote

140001338 — 2024-01-23 20:33:41 UTC

In the Chapter, Black Power, James watches a news clip on Black Panthers preaching for Black power, rallying up African-Americans, James thought to himself, "These people will kill Mommy."

This quote stood out to me because even though he has never met a Black Panther his perspective was quick to think that they would be cold-blooded murderers. Also shows how the Media can show events of certain things but does not show what the intentions of the people are.

Formalist Lens

140001338 — 2024-01-23 20:33:41 UTC

) In the chapter "The Old Testament" it was written from the perspective of his mother (Rachel). It gave us insight of her childhood and how her relationship with her father and mother was. The father's actions towards Rachel were sickening, obscene, as he was sexually molesting his own daughter. It also shows her mother in a good light having good memories with her and just enjoying spending time with her. The next chapter right after is "The New Testament" where it goes to show how Rachel developed her new found faith in the religion of Christianity after meeting Andrew McBride. Every sunday going to church, the only place where she cried.

) In chapter 1 the author's purpose in telling that was so that we would know the family dynamic and to make sure we knew background information on the person who was going to be in it the majority of the time.

3.)

Reader-Response Lens

140001338 — 2024-02-01 17:50:31 UTC

- The audience that the book, "The Color of Water" was intended for someone who is living as a biracial person. These would be a perfect example as the book shows the struggle of raising 12 kids, how she dealt with it, how the father was hardly present in their life making it even more stressful for Rachel.
Currently how the book would be interpreted would be with compassion for the family as they read about the struggles that Rachel goes through and the racism towards all of them.

Qoute

140001338 — 2024-02-05 18:37:05 UTC

A quote that stands out to me is in the chapter "Boys" where it is Rachel's POV when she was a teenager living in Suffolk. This chapter talks about how she was lonely desiring love from someone. She finds what she is looking for in Peter, her boyfriend, they are around each other long enough to where Rachel gets pregnant, knowing that she is pregnant from Peter a dark-skinned young man she thinks, "The white folks would have killed him and my father would have killed him" (McBride 112). To be afraid of letting anyone know you're going to give birth to a child even as a young person like Rachel is utterly shocking to see that she fears that people would know that the father is of a different race. It just goes to show how extreme racism was back then and although it is not completely gone as of now, at least we are seeing major improvements as to the treatment of colored people is now.

Socialist Lens

140001338 — 2024-02-09 17:08:59 UTC

- In the chapter "Lost In Delaware", As a student at Pierre S. Du Pont Highschool James is selected to go on a trip to Europe with "The American Youth Jazz Band". Without the necessary funds for the trip, a married couple sponsors him allowing him to go, although this was a very generous act it did not come without any repercussions. James was voluntold to work at Mrs.Dawson's estate, working as a caterer, cleaning the barn, cutting grass, and trimming trees. Before enrolling into this public school his mother Rachel was anxiously looking to enroll him in a private school. Having failed this due to the lack of education known by James skipping a vast amount of school days the past 2 years. Throughout this James was very aware about his economic and social forces that were affecting his life as right before moving to Delaware James's older brothers were adamant on moving to Delaware knowing that their mother(Rachel) was struggling to pay the rent in New York.

Quote

140001338 — 2024-02-12 18:35:28 UTC

1 ) In the chapter, "Graduation", Rachel has to go back to Suffolk to finish high school. While working in the convenience store she overhears some girls talking about how Peter got a girl pregnant and is planning to marry her, she confronts him, leaving distraught once he confirms it. Rachel's thoughts lead her to believe that, "if the world were fair, I suppose I would have married him." (McBride 154). The only reason that she did not take the initiative to stay with Peter was because if they were to be seen together in Suffolk, the chance of him getting killed were extremely high as that was not accepted in this period of time. It just goes to demonstrate the blatant racism that people had within the 1930's.

End of Memoir Reflection

2024-02-23 19:14:38 UTC

1 ) The book was amazing, I personally enjoyed reading the alternating stories they had of their lives, how they matured through the obstacles thrown towards them persevering through it. I thought that it was immensely shocking to see how Rachel was maintaining 8 kids whilst being in the state of mind she was going through when Andrew died. The development she had was also amazing to see as before we got towards the end of the book we see that she was closed off from everyone.

social issue

140001338 — 2024-02-23 19:36:54 UTC

personal reflection

140001338 — 2024-02-23 19:37:02 UTC

Psychological Lens

140001338 — 2024-02-23 19:37:18 UTC

1 In the chapter, "Promise", Rachel leaves Dennis in New York for a while because her mother's physical state was worsening. Dee-dee, Rachel's sisters mental health was deteriorating as the father divorced the mom and Rachel is planning to go back to New york as she had already extended the date once before having Dennis wait even more for her return. At the end of the story it says, "she would remind me of it many years later." (McBride 201). To have held a grudge against Rachel for so long, we can determine that breaking the promise to stay in Suffolk that day, left Dee-dee spiraling down in emotions enough to ensure that she would hold that on to Rachel.

Quote

140001338 — 2024-02-23 19:37:23 UTC

Personal reflection

140001338 — 2024-02-23 19:37:33 UTC

Social Issue

140001338 — 2024-02-23 19:40:13 UTC

Personal reflection

140001338 — 2024-02-23 19:40:22 UTC

When James is talking about having to share stuff on page 68, I found it kind of funny that his mom bought two rocking chairs just because she saw that John F. Kennedy had one. To have read about the part where Helen quit school was disappointing as the cause she was supporting could have been acted on further if she had continued studying expanding her knowledge. Who knows, she might have been able to be a part of something great that could change the system as she wanted.