Passing

Passing, written by Nella Larsen in 1929, tells the story about two women Clare Kennedry who has severed all ties with her past and Irene Redfield who refuses to acknowledge that racism constricts her family's happiness. Its another one of those books that makes you ponder and look at the world in a new way even if it is only for a short while. It's the story about two African-American women who have light enough skin to pass as white during the roaring twenties.  Clare Kennedry decides to completely "pass" as white and marries a white bigot business man who is unaware of her lineage. Irene Redfield has chosen to stay with her African-American community in Harlem and only passes occasionally. It's a fascinating story about race and sexuality in the United States.
                                    
Don't read the introduction because it gives the ending away, but do read it afterwards because it is enlightening. Thadious M. Davis discusses Clare and Irene and the linkage between race and sex in Larsen's narrative (xx). Clare and Irene are opposites; Clare is adventurous, sexy, ambitious, elegant, and takes risk knowing that the consequence is sacrifice whereas Irene is more subdued, controlling, and revolves around her young boys and husband. Their story talks about the struggle about  accepting race, culture, and sexuality as one's own.
Passing was recommended by NPR and yours truly.

The more I read and delve into specific areas of study the more I realize how much the world has lived. Scholars sometimes focus on the most obscure unknown person, yet during that era they were the talk of town or influential in the forming of jazz legends, writers, etc. Like Eartha Kitt, never had heard of her, probably heard her voice, but her story is amazing. How many people have studied her life, her career and her presence in the fabric of music? Too many but it is exciting all the same to think you've discovered something new.