UVa-Wise freshmen to read New York Times bestseller 'The Color of Water'

Author James McBride to present lecture in February 2007

James McBride

This fall, incoming UVa-Wise freshmen will read James McBride’s acclaimed book, “The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother.” The shared reading experience will serve as a class-building exercise to allow all freshmen to engage in the same learning activity regardless of their major.

Members of the community are also invited to join students, faculty and staff in reading “The Color of Water.” The shared freshmen reading is part of the College’s ongoing mission to help new students define their identities while exposing them to other cultures. Students will engage in discussions about the book and its issues of race, religion and identity.

A regular for over two years on the New York Times bestseller list, “The Color of Water” is McBride’s tribute to the remarkable life of his white mother, who was born to a rabbi in Poland, was raised in the South, fled to Harlem, married a black man, founded a Baptist church and put 12 children through college.

This will be the second time that all incoming freshmen will be asked to read the same book during their first year of enrollment at UVa-Wise. Last year, incoming freshmen were asked to read “One Foot in Eden” by Pulitzer Prize-nominee Ron Rash.

To complement this year’s freshmen reading experience, McBride will visit the College in February 2007 to discuss his book and to take part in the College’s celebration of Black History Month. In addition to classroom visits with students, the author will present a special lecture entitled “The Color of Water: Meditations on Identity.” Free to the public, the lecture will be held in the Fred B. Greear Gymnasium at 1 p.m. on Feb. 28, 2007.

A graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism, James McBride has written for The Boston Globe, People and The Washington Post. An award-winning composer and saxophonist, he has penned songs for Anita Baker, Grover Washington, Jr. and Gary Burton. He also leads his own jazz ensemble.

Posted August 16, 2006