Identity in the Color of WaterThe American dictionary defines identity as the distinct personality of an individual. Many factors constitute a person's identity, such as race, relationship to society, and religion. People look for other people they can relate to. One must interact with others and learn from their interests and their responses to find a suitable group. The process of finding a group allows each person to discover their own identity. Through The Color of Water, James McBride demonstrates that we perceive our identity through the comments of others as well as through our own thoughts and emotions. One aspect of identity for which feedback can be given almost instantly is race, as it involves the color of a person's skin. Young children are often unaware of other people's races unless they are taught or given reasons to do otherwise. McBride's breed caught his attention from a young age. He noticed both blacks and whites looking at his white mother with his black family, letting him know that his family was different from what was considered normal and acceptable by society. Comparing the color of his mother's skin, he noticed that her skin was white while his was black. He became confused about his own color and uncomfortable with the fact that his mother was white. He wanted to be accepted by others and believed that life “would be easier if [his family were] one color, black or white” (103). McBride became aware of her race at a younger age than most children. While he compared skin color with others, I didn't care about my race because people of similar skin color surrounded me. I knew black people, but because most of the people around me were white, I never felt alienated because of my race. Plus, my family was all one race, so I didn't share McBride's confusion about his color. Due to his uncertainty, he was unsure of his place in society. By analyzing his thoughts and emotions as well as the comments of others, one can also discover where he stands in relation to society when experimenting with different groups of people. McBride felt that his mother's color bothered him, so he began his "own running process, disconnecting emotionally from her" (138). Although he was previously an exceptional student, he dropped out of school and began looking for someone he could relate to..