The Color of Love

A Story of a Mixed-Race Jewish Girl

De: Marra B. Gad

Narrado por: Marra B. Gad

Winner of the 2020 Midwest Book Award in Autobiography/Memoir, The Color of Love is an unforgettable memoir about a mixed-race Jewish woman who, after 15 years of estrangement from her racist great-aunt, helps bring her home when Alzheimer’s strikes

In 1970, three-day-old Marra B. Gad was adopted by a White Jewish family in Chicago. For her parents, it was love at first sight - but they quickly realized the world wasn’t ready for a family like theirs.

Marra’s biological mother was unwed, White, and Jewish, and her biological father was Black. While still a child, Marra came to realize that she was “a mixed-race, Jewish unicorn”. In Black spaces, she was not “Black enough” or told that it was okay to be Christian or Muslim but not Jewish. In Jewish spaces, she was mistaken for the help, asked to leave, or worse. Even in her own extended family, racism bubbled to the surface.

Marra’s family cut out those relatives who could not tolerate the color of her skin - including her once beloved, glamorous, worldly Great-Aunt Nette. After they had been estranged for 15 years, Marra discovers that Nette has Alzheimer’s and that only she is in a position to get Nette back to the only family she has left. Instead of revenge, Marra chooses love and watches as the disease erases her aunt’s racism, making space for a relationship that was never possible before.

The Color of Love explores the idea of yerusha, which means “inheritance” in Yiddish. At turns heart-wrenching and heartwarming, this is a story about what you inherit from your family - identity, disease, melanin, hate, and, most powerful of all, love. With honesty, insight, and warmth, Marra B. Gad has written an inspirational, moving chronicle proving that, when all else is stripped away, love is where we return and love is always our greatest inheritance.

©2019 Marra B. Gad (P)2019 Blackstone Publishing

An American Tragedy

So sad that people have to endure this horrible bigotry. Thank you to author for sharing your story with such grace and love. Anyone who reads it will benefit. It should be required that all teachers read this story to their class by first grade so children can teach those parents who still harbor hatred that all are created equal in this country.

enlightening and moving

The author is the best narrator I have ever encountered. I cried and laughed as her remarkable story unfolded.

profound, powerful

love it so much. thanks very much to marra, for her excellent words and voice

Beautiful, honest , heartfelt

From beginning to end, a wonderful story. Beautifully written. Full of raw honesty, humor and wit.
I was captivated by the whole story. It took me on a inside journey throughout the life of the writer. I felt every emotion possible.
Very well written and narrated. I was truly impressed. Thank you for sharing your story.

Congratulations

Raw, fresh, vulnerable, Courageous, beautifully written, eye-opening, sensitive, a worthwhile book, time well spent

I felt this true story stayed with me, still has

We don't pick our parents.
Our lives are altered by so many factors,
The story being true, and someone in my acquaintance knowing the Author from childhood made this somewhat personal.
We have no idea what is painful to some, none what so ever,
We also have no real idea what joy impacts someone.
To hear the story was what I needed for me.
I became a better person from it.

An unexpected favorite

This audiobook turned out to be an unexpected favorite of mine. It was so full of familial love. Marra’s parents and grandmother sounded so fierce and loving and in all the best ways. Even when this book feels like it’s about to make room for negativity, it’s really just more love. I have actually already suggested this book to a friend or two.

Excellent Memoir

Highly reccomend this book. Marra's story is important, as it is one so many Jews of color face in one way or another. If you care about diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Jewish community, and in the US as a whole, you should read or listen to this book

Potent in every way!

I hope that many of the audible subscribers listen to this book. It has so many lessons about life in general. It’s filled with emotions and lessons about forgiveness in ways that reach your deep in your soul if you really pay attention. Thank you Marra for sharing your story!

Beautiful Story

Marra Gad has written and narrated a beautiful story. I absolutely fell in love with part 1 but I had mixed feelings about part 2 . The cruelty with which the state of California operates is unconscionable. There have to be checks, balances and transparency when it comes to elderly people. Otherwise the kind of abuse Marra’s family endured is perpetuated. Her aunt and uncle absolutely endured abuse at the hands of people who were supposed to care for them. It was hard to read especially when there was little to no recourse offered from a legal standpoint. I have to applaud Marra and her family for the great love they demonstrated and the choices they made. Thank you Ms. Gad for sharing your life and your heart. It was a lovely listen.