James McBride

James McBride is an award-winning American author, musician, and screenwriter who is best known for his memoir The Color of Water, which was a New York Times bestseller for two years. McBride’s work explores themes of racial injustice, personal identity, and the complexities of family life, drawing on his own experiences growing up in a multi-ethnic family. He has written several works of fiction and non-fiction, including his bestselling novel Song Yet Sung, and his latest novel, Deacon King Kong.

McBride was born in 1957 in a working-class neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. His mother was an Irish Catholic and his father was an African American Baptist. His parents divorced when he was young, and he was raised in the Catholic faith by his mother and her 11 children. Growing up in a racially charged environment, McBride was exposed to many different points of view, and he has said that as he grew older he was drawn to the complicated truths that exist “in the vexing grey areas of life.”

McBride began writing in high school, when he was awarded an essay contest prize for an article about racial justice. He went on to work as a musician, performing with Little Richard and others. He unsuccessfully attempted a career as a jazz musician and eventually began writing for national magazines. During this period he was also a contributing editor for The Washington Post. He then went on to earn a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

McBride’s writing career began to take off in 1995 with the release of his memoir, The Color of Water, which was a New York Times bestseller for two years. The book tells the story of McBride’s experience growing up in his mixed-race family, and examines the effects of racism and the struggles of identity. His subsequent works have also addressed issues of race and identity, with novels such as Miracle at St. Anna (2004) and Song Yet Sung (2008). Most recently, he has written Deacon King Kong (2020), which follows the lives of inhabitants in Brooklyn projects in 1969.

McBride has won numerous awards for his writing, including the prestigious Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, the Paterson Prize for Books for Young People, and the National Book Award. He has also been named a member of The Brown Institute for Media Innovation, as a Delegate of the Obama Foundation.

In addition to his writing career, McBride is also an accomplished musician, playing with some of the biggest names in jazz. He has released two albums, and released his memoir, titled Kill 'Em and Leave: Searching for James Brown and the American Soul in 2017.

James McBride is a respected and highly sought after author and musician. His writing has won numerous awards and continues to explore complex themes such as race and identity. He is an engaging storyteller with a unique insight into race, injustice, and family life. McBride’s work will resonate with readers for years to come.