Summary Of Passing By Nella Larsen

In the 1920s and 1930s, blacks were treated differently, discriminated against, and faced with racism every day. In 1929, at the peak of the harsh treatment towards the blacks, Passing, by Nella Larsen, was published. Larsen demonstrates how blacks were limited in society, since they were constrained by the racism they faced. The favored race, whites, were shown to be supreme to blacks, as Larsen illuminated throughout Passing. Blacks lacking power serves as Larsen’s basis for showing the changes blacks face when they take on another identity. In Passing, Larsen illustrates the social and financial power blacks gain by passing. The concept of passing assists blacks as they are given more power than they normally have. Characters within

Whites were given job opportunities and proper education, showing the unfairness blacks faced. “During the Great Migration (1910–1920), African Americans by the thousands poured into industrial cities to find work and later to fill labor shortages created by World War I. Though they continued to face exclusion and discrimination in employment, as well as some segregation in schools and public accommodations…” (The Civil Rights Act of 1964: A Long Struggle for Freedom). As emphasized by the historic movement, whites have more rights than blacks. Thus, passing would prove to be effective for blacks, so they could achieve the same power that whites had, including the ability to get employed and attend school without trouble. In a similar manner, during this 20th century era, whites discriminated against blacks by looking down upon them, as highlighted by Larsen, when John Bellew is enraged with Clare for being black. “‘So you’re a nigger, a damned dirty nigger!’ His voice was a snarl and a moan, an expression of rage and pain.” (Larsen 111). Mr. Bellew finally found out his wife was passing, and since he hates blacks, he discriminates against her, by putting her down with words. Therefore, blacks face social power struggles, demonstrated through Bellew treating his wife differently, because she is black. All in all, blacks are constantly faced with a lack of power as to whites, since they are not given equal opportunity, and are looked down upon; showing how passing can be beneficial to blacks, because passing can provide blacks with social and financial