The Color of Water

by

James McBride

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on The Color of Water makes teaching easy.

Black Panthers

Black Panthers were members of the Black Panther Party, a group that began as a neighborhood patrol protecting black citizens from police, before growing into a national movement with a ten-point plan for black liberation… read analysis of Black Panthers

Black Power

A term for racial pride among African Americans, initially used in conjunction with the Civil Rights Movement. However, in contrast to the Civil Rights Movement the Black Power Movement started to shift its focus towards… read analysis of Black Power

Kosher

Jewish dietary law. There are varying levels of strictness for those who keep kosher, with Orthodox Jews observing the strictest laws. Keeping kosher always requires abstaining from certain foods like pork and shellfish. The law… read analysis of Kosher

Ku Klux Klan

A Southern hate group (which has since spread through the country) that formed in the aftermath of the Civil War. The Klan is a white supremacist organization which intimidates and attacks groups it opposes. The… read analysis of Ku Klux Klan

Mulatto

An antiquated, often-offensive term for a person of mixed race, generally someone with one white and one black parent. Although this term was originally descriptive, it is now usually considered a slur. The archetype of… read analysis of Mulatto
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Rabbi

The simplest definition of a rabbi is a Jewish person who teaches the Torah. These teaching duties can also be expanded to include preaching to congregations and serving as the keeper of the synagogue. In… read analysis of Rabbi

Sabbath

Shabbat in Jewish tradition: the day of rest. In Christianity, this day is Sunday, but in Judaism it is Friday at sundown to Saturday at sundown. On the Sabbath Orthodox Jews are not allowed to… read analysis of Sabbath

Shiva

A Jewish mourning tradition. Following a funeral, the person’s immediate family sits and mourns for seven days, either in their home or that of a close relative. Traditions vary by family and denomination, but generally… read analysis of Shiva

Yom Kippur

Arguably the most important Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur is the “Day of Atonement,” on which Jewish people fast and atone for their behavior in the previous year. Together with Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year)… read analysis of Yom Kippur