Besides the novel and the autobiography, the memoir has become very popular, especially in the United States. What makes a memoir special? What are the key aspects the writer of a memoir has to observe? And what is it that differentiates the memoir from a simple novel or an autobiography? In our seminar “Contemporary American Novels”, we dealt with some recent outcomes that talk about different subjects – growing up with a divided inheritance, dealing with a rape and overcoming the death of a beloved person. In this term paper, I will take a closer look at the first subject, namely growing up with a divided inheritance, and memoir we read – “The Color of Water” by James McBride. To analyse several different issues that are raised in this book, I will compare it to another memoir, which also deals with the subject of growing up as a part of two different cultures. “Dreams from My Father” was written by the senator-elect from Illinois Barack Obama in the year 1995 and describes his life as the son of a white mother and a black father – just as James McBride. Firstly, I will discuss the theoretical conditions of the memoir as a genre on the basis of the three questions given above. Afterwards, I will go over to the two memoirs that shall be analysed. Since both authors grew up in almost the same time of racial discrimination a short introduction on the historical background of the two memoirs will be given. This is followed by a detailed analysis on different issues that are treated in the two memoirs: The relationship between Barack and his father compared to the relationship of James and his mother, as well as how the subjects of race and identity as they are experienced by the two authors. I will conclude this thesis in the final chapter.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Memoirs and Autobiographies
3. Historical Context of the two Memoirs
4. Comparing “Dreams from My Father” and “The Color of Water”
4.1 Father-Son / Mother-Son Relationship
4.2 Mixed Race
4.3 Struggling with Identity
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography
Objectives and Core Themes
This academic paper examines the genre of the memoir and analyzes the personal journeys of Barack Obama and James McBride, who both navigate the challenges of growing up with a divided racial and cultural inheritance. The study explores how these authors reconcile their dual identities, address the absence of fathers, and process their experiences within the context of race and social history in the United States.
- Theoretical exploration of the memoir as a literary genre and its distinction from autobiography.
- Comparative analysis of the father-son and mother-son relationships in the two featured memoirs.
- Examination of racial identity formation and the impact of the Civil Rights Movement on both authors.
- Evaluation of the search for personal roots and the reconciliation of "divided inheritance."
Excerpt from the Book
4.1 Father-Son / Mother-Son Relationship
Barack Obama and James McBride both originate from a black father and a white mother. Both did not really get to know their fathers in person. James did not, because his father died before he was born, and Barack only got to know his father for a week when he was ten years old. However, while James McBride writes a memoir not only about himself growing up with a divided inheritance, but also about his mother who came with her family as a Jewish immigrant from Poland to the United States, Barack Obama only focuses on his own life and the search for his paternal African roots in Kenya.
The titles of the memoirs already offer the reader an insight into what the memoir will focus on. “The Color of Water” is an expression James McBride’s mother uses to describe God’s skin colour when little James asks her for it. The subtitle “A Black Man’s Tribute to his White Mother” holds further information for the reader as it suggests that this memoir will not only put James McBride’s life in the centre of attention, but will also be focused on the mother’s life. Inside the memoir, James McBride separates his own story from the memoir of his mother presenting alternating chapters about himself and about his mother. Furthermore, the memoir of his mother is written in italics to stress the change of perspective, because these parts is also written in a first person narration, just as James McBride’s personal memoir is, too:
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the focus on the memoir genre and sets the comparative scope for the works of Barack Obama and James McBride.
2. Memoirs and Autobiographies: This section defines the memoir genre, highlighting its focus on personal, selective experience in contrast to the chronological nature of traditional autobiographies.
3. Historical Context of the two Memoirs: This chapter provides the social and political background of the 1960s, including the Civil Rights Movement, and discusses the regional contexts of Hawaii, Chicago, and Harlem.
4. Comparing “Dreams from My Father” and “The Color of Water”: This core chapter offers a detailed analysis of family relationships, the impact of mixed-race backgrounds, and the personal struggles for identity.
4.1 Father-Son / Mother-Son Relationship: This subsection compares how the absence of fathers and the unique relationships with their mothers shaped the authors' early lives.
4.2 Mixed Race: This subsection examines the societal challenges, prejudices, and internal conflicts faced by the authors due to their mixed racial heritage.
4.3 Struggling with Identity: This subsection analyzes the authors' individual paths in finding their place in society and their eventual self-acceptance.
5. Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the findings, noting how writing their memoirs allowed both authors to address their identity conflicts and find pride in their backgrounds.
6. Bibliography: This section lists the academic sources, primary literature, and internet resources used to support the research.
Keywords
Memoir, Autobiography, Barack Obama, James McBride, Divided Inheritance, Racial Identity, Civil Rights Movement, Mixed Race, Family Dynamics, Cultural Heritage, Authenticity, Black Power, Harlem Renaissance, Personal Development, Narrative.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on analyzing the memoir genre through a comparative study of Barack Obama's "Dreams from My Father" and James McBride's "The Color of Water," specifically regarding the theme of a divided racial inheritance.
Which memoirs are being compared?
The paper compares "Dreams from My Father" by Barack Obama and "The Color of Water" by James McBride.
What is the central research question?
The research explores how these two authors experience and navigate the challenges of being raised in two different cultures and how they reconcile their racial and personal identities.
What scientific methods are applied in the paper?
The author uses a comparative literary analysis, examining theoretical genre conditions, historical backgrounds, and thematic patterns within the primary texts.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body covers the theoretical definition of a memoir, historical context of the 1960s, an analysis of parent-child relationships, and a detailed look at the struggle for racial and personal identity.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Memoir, Divided Inheritance, Racial Identity, Civil Rights Movement, and Family Dynamics.
How does James McBride structure his memoir?
McBride employs a dual-narrative structure, alternating chapters between his own personal experiences and the life story of his mother, often distinguishing her perspective through the use of italics.
Why did Obama travel to Kenya during his search for identity?
Obama traveled to Kenya to connect with his paternal heritage, learn about his father’s life, and find a sense of belonging that he felt was missing in his American experience.
What does the "tragic mulatto" concept imply for James McBride?
The concept refers to the literary trope of a mixed-race individual who struggles to belong to either the white or black world; McBride explored this concept during his youth as he grappled with his own identity conflicts.
How did the Civil Rights Movement influence the authors differently?
While both grew up during this era, McBride was significantly impacted by the "Black Power" movement in his Harlem neighborhood, whereas Obama, living in Hawaii, encountered racial dynamics differently and experienced the movement's effects with less immediate proximity to neighborhood-based threats.
- Quote paper
- Eveline Podgorski (Author), 2007, Divided Inheritance, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/119431
