Weighing the Consequences of Passing as a White American

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Weighing the Consequences of Passing as a White
American

• Presentation by Amy Knebel

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First some Important Definitions

• Black- in this time period, a person with ANY
  percentage of African American blood. EVEN IF
  THEY HAD LIGHT SKIN

Mulatto- a person with mixed blood- some black
and some white
White- a person with 100 Caucasion ancestry
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What is Passing

• Passing is when a black or mulatto individual
  acts as if they are white
• Many black or Mulatto men and women passed
  because it benefited them

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What benefits were there to Passing?
Some people Passed to..
date or marry someone that was white
get a job that they couldnt get if their
employer knew they were not white
shop in stores that only allowed white people
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Varying opinions about the Morality of Passing
Position 1 Passing at all means denying black
heritage and displaying shame about being
black
Position 2 Passing is alright as long as there
is no moral stakes involved.
shopping at white stores is fine
Lying through passing to get a job is
disgraceful
Position 3 Passing is necessary and convenient
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Clares View of Passing

• Passing is necessary to live a better life

• -She marries a white man who has NO IDEA that
  shes mulatto

• -People from her past still know
• that shes mulatto and hate that
• she lies about her heritage

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Irenes View of Passing
Passing is alright if it does not affect other
people. If passing has consequences for family or
inhibits African American advancement, it is
disgraceful.
-Irene goes shopping and passes -Irene loses
work when she announces that she is colored
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Irenes View of Clare

• Inconsiderate of her family and friends
• Disloyal to her Black heritage
• Irresponsible
• Outwardly selfish
• Egotistical

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Clares View of Irene

• Unwilling to take chances
• Old fashioned
• Self-loathing rather than self-confident
• Bitter
• Lacking ambition

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Class Discussion What is your opinion of
passing? Is it like Clare or Irene?

• Clare

Irene
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How does the Book Cover Assist our Discussion?
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Writing Project
You are to write a narrative from the perspective
of either Irene or Clare. Your narrative can be
in any form but must include..
1- An explanation of the characters life
statement or motivation based on knowledge of the
events in the book. 2.A critique of the other
female character using textual quotations 3.
Advice for African American women as well as the
contrasting character
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Writing assignment Rubric
You will be graded on.. A- Creativity B-Combinin
g all 3 elements of the assignment in a
comprehensive manner C- Flow between paragraphs
through transitions D-Use of textual examples and
evidense E-Educated and constructive criticism
based on your knowledge of Irene and Clare as
characters
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Helpful Information for your Paper

• Bibliography on Nella Larsen from a private site
• http//womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blbio_l
  arsen_nella.htm
• Bibliography from a College Site
• http//www.library.csi.cuny.edu/dept/history/laven
  der/386/nlarsen.html