McBride's book retraces his mother's footsteps and recreates her remarkable story. Born Ruchel Zylska to a Polish Orthodox Jewish family that emigrated to the U.S. in 1921, Ruth Jordan McBride married a black Baptist minister and raised 12 children. The biography explores the slippery notions of race and identity in the modern era. With candor and immediacy, Ruth describes her parent's loveless marriage; her fragile, handicapped mother; her cruel, sexually-abusive father; and the rest of the family and life she abandoned.

Fleeing small-town life in Virginia, where anti-Semitism and racial tensions ran high, Ruth settled in New York City, married a black minister and founded the all-black New Brown Memorial Baptist Church in her Red Hook living room. "God is the color of water," Ruth taught her children, firmly convinced that life's blessings and life's values transcend race. Confronting adversity and racism, Ruth's determination, drive and discipline saw her dozen children through college ­ and most through graduate school. At age 65, she herself received a degree in social work from Temple University.

Interspersed throughout his mother's compelling narrative, McBride shares recollections of his own experiences as a mixed-race child of poverty, his flirtations with drugs and violence, and his eventual self-realization and professional success. "The Color of Water" is a vivid portrait of growing up, a haunting meditation on race and identity, and a lyrical valentine to a mother from her son.

McBride is a graduate of Oberlin College and Columbia School of Journalism. An award-winning author and composer, McBride wrote for the "Boston Globe," "People," and the "Washington Post" before his music career took hold. His literary awards include the 1997 Anisfield Wolf Book Award. Awards for musical theater composition include the 1996 American Arts and Letters Richard Rodgers Award, the 1996 ASCAP Richard Rodgers Horizons Award, and the American Music Theater Festival's 1993 Stephen Sondheim Award.

A professional saxophonist, McBride recently toured with the legendary Little Jimmy Scott and played in both the Montreal and Newark Jazz Festivals. His jazz, hip-hop musical "Bobos" premiered in 1993 at the American Music Theater Festival in Philadelphia and won the prestigious Alton B. Jones Foundation Grant. His song credits range from collaboration with greats such as to Anita Baker to children's songs for the PBS character "Barney."

At the evening forum, McBride will be interviewed by Christopher Lydon, former host of "The Connection" on WBUR Boston, heard locally on WFPL 89.3 FM (Public Radio Partnership). Lydon has been a distinctive voice in print, television and radio journalism for more than 30 years.

Wednesday, April 25, 2001

This edition of the Kentucky Author Forums is sponsored by the University of Louisville and recorded by WFPL Radio and KET-TV.

10 a.m. - James McBride will speak to U of L students on U of L's Belknap Campus (restricted to special master class).

Kentucky Center for the Arts 5 Riverfront Plaza, Downtown Louisville

The evening's activities are as follows:

5 p.m. Hawley-Cooke Booksellers book sale and wine and cheese reception provided by Brown Forman, Lobby

6 p.m. Conversation with James McBride and Christopher Lydon in the Bomhard Theatre

7 p.m. Q & A followed by book signing on Bittners' stage set

A $16 ticket includes the above three events. A limited number of discounted tickets of $5 each are available for U of L students, faculty and staff at the KCA box office --U of L photo ID is required.

8:15 p.m. Dinner with the author, hosted by U of L President John Shumaker and Mrs. Shumaker

A $100 package ticket includes the above events plus dinner with Ted Koppel. (Proceeds go to the nonprofit Kentucky Author Forum, $60 is tax-deductible.)

Tickets available at the Kentucky Center for the Arts, 502-584-7777 (1-800-775-7777)

Those not attending the evening event in the Bomhard Theatre may watch an unedited version of the tape at The Louisville Free Public Library, St. Matthews/Eline Branch, 3940 Grandview Avenue, at 10 am, Friday, April 27. For further information : call the public library directly at 574-1771. Seating is limited but free.

WFPL 89.3 FM and the Kentucky Education Network (KET) will record the event for future broadcast.

The Kentucky Author Forum series is produced by Mary Moss Greenebaum and sponsored by the University of Louisville in cooperation with Hawley-Cooke Booksellers; Brown-Forman Corp.; Bittners of Louisville; WFPL, Louisville's NPR Station for News; The Courier-Journal; KET, the Kentucky Network; and the Kentucky Center for the Arts.

624 West Main, Second Floor
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
Phone 502.589.2884
Fax 502.589.4334
email KYFORUM@aol.com