Passing is by Nella Larsen. This historical fiction novella is the story of two acquaintances who chance to meet at a hotel in Chicago. Clare is so light skinned she is able to "pass" as white, and has married a racist white man who has no idea is wife is mixed race. Irene is also fair skinned enough to "pass" as white, but she has acknowledged her heritage and has married an African-American doctor and lives in Harlem. Both are wealthy, although, Clare's husband is very rich. Clare wants to spend time with her "people," but she can't risk her husband discovering her secret heritage. Irene finds herself swept into Clare's life, not entirely willingly, and both women must confront the truth of being African-American in the 1920s and the lies we tell ourselves to cope with life. A wonderful book and one that everyone should read.
Ratings: 11th grade - 9 out of 10 - AC (mature thematic content) - P (racial language of the time).
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