ericans. Jean Toomer explored what life was likefor very poor African-Americans. Countee Cullen on theother hand explored the problem of racism and thedefinition of Africa for African-Americans. Nella Larsenexplored the restrictions faced by African-Americansaccording to their skin color. Nella Larsen's novel, Passing was her second as wellas last novel and was published in 1929. To get a betteridea of what this novel is about, one must understand whatexactly "passing" is. Passing is when African-American menor women with light skin pass themselves off as white inorder to enjoy the privileges that were afforded to whitepeople during this period in American history. The Plessyvs. Ferguson ruling of "separate, but equal" was still ineffect at this time in history. Therefore, one couldunderstand why it could be advantageous forAfrican-Americans who had light enough skin to passthemselves off as white. Passing is narrated by the character, Irene Redfield,who is a middle-class, light-skinned African-American womanwho deplores "passing." She is married to a doctor, withwhom she has two sons, who is too dark to "pass." Irene issomewhat self-consciously proud of her African heritage. Irene's life is going along as usual when she runs into achildhood friend. Her old friend's name is Clare Kendry. Clare Kendry is a light-skinned African-American woman who"passes" for white. In fact she is even married to a whitedoctor. Ironically, Irene runs into her at a rooftoprestaurant where she herself is "passing" to evade the heatwave. The characters in Passing, are faced with theconfusion of which race to identify with. They are trappedin limbo between two worlds: white and black. Thesefeelings of being denied privileges if they identify withAfrican-American society and being allowed privileges ifthey "pass" as white causes them to feel lonely and feel asthough they are not truly part of either race. If they"pass" they will be allowed to...
