Book Club Discussion Questions
Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
Introduction
James McBride grew up one of twelve siblings in the all-black housing
projects of Red Hook, Brooklyn, the son of a black minister and a woman who
would not admit she was white. The object of McBride's constant embarrassment,
and his continuous fear for her safety, his mother was an inspiring figure, who
through sheer force of will saw her dozen children through college, and many
through graduate school. McBride was an adult before he discovered the truth
about his mother: the daughter of a failed itinerant Orthodox rabbi in rural
Virginia, she had run away to Harlem, married a black man, and founded an
all-black Baptist church in her living room in Red Hook. In this remarkable
memoir, she tells in her own words the story of her past. Around her narrative,
James McBride has written a powerful portrait of growing up, a meditation on
race and identity, and a poignant, beautifully crafted hymn from a son to his
mother.
Discussion Questions
- Discuss Ruth McBride's refusal to reveal her past and how that influenced
her children's sense of themselves and their place in the world. How has
your knowledge—or lack thereof—about your family
background shaped your own self-image?
- The McBride children's struggle with their identities led each to his or
her own "revolution." Is it also possible that that same struggle
led them to define themselves through professional achievement?
- Several of the McBride children became involved in the civil rights
movement. Do you think that this was a result of the times in which they
lived, their need to belong to a group that lent them a solid identity, or a
combination of these factors?
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- How does the author develop themes of identity and belonging throughout the narrative?
- What role does the setting play in shaping the characters' decisions and relationships?
- Discuss how the ending reframes the events of the story. Were you surprised?
Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Riverhead Books.
Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.
