Race in the 1920's Kyle Pappalardo AMH 2020 2/24/02 The most important point that Nella Larsen's Passing illustrates about race in the 1920's is, that race at this time in history is by far still the greatest factor dealt with by society in America. The fact that black people would hide their own identity in an attempt to "pass" as white to get ahead is an ideal representation of race at this point in history. Plessy v. Ferguson was supposed to have made blacks separate but equal, yet this book shows first hand, through the lives of the three main characters, that this is entirely not so. Equality could only be realized by blacks in one way, by pretending to be what they were not. Some fooled society into thinking they deserved equal treatment. They became white.
Only one character in the story is brave enough to actually become white, and live her life day in and day out as if she were.
Clare Grant
IRELAND, COUNTY CLARE 1993 ---LICENSE PLATE
Clare GrantClare Kendry becomes in all actuality, white, and she does so because she will not be able to live the quality of life she desires as a black woman. Clare abandons her race and family in order to pursue a life of wealth and ease. The only problem is that now Clare also pursues a life of lies and deceit. She uses her good looks to marry a rich white banker, and keeps all knowledge of her black heritage from him, for he is extremely racist and hates blacks. She even produces a white child, and mingles only with whites.
Clare's case of passing seems extreme, for it would take a certain type of person to go through with all that is needed to live a constant lie. Yet Clare is the perfect type. She is extremely...