shaping social and economic stratification patterns in the black community. Several studies (Blackwell 1975; Drake and Cayton 1945; Davis, Gardner, and Gardner 1941) have noted that, in past generations, higher-status blacks tended to have lighter skin tones than lower-status blacks and that light skin tone was an important criterion for attaining prestige within the black community.” (Keith and Herring 761). Although passing as White opens the door too many social and economic advantages it could be detrimental and cause you to hate yourself and your ethnic group. Nobody should feel that they have to question how they want to identify in order to be successful in America. Everyone should be accepted for who they are because your race is something you can’t change.
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Nella Larsen talks about this in her novel Passing. The Novel Passing by Nella Larsen is about two distant friends Clare Kendry and Irene Redfield. Both of these women are African American who have the “privilege” of being able to pass as White women. However, Irene still identify with her African American Roots while Clare identify solely as a White woman. African Americans were not allowed in certain restaurants, schools, universities, theaters, and other public places which made Irene and Clare feel like they had to “pass” in order to be accepted. “Irene felt, in turn, anger, scorn, and fear slide over her. It wasn't that she was ashamed of being Negro, or even of having it declared, it was the idea of being ejected from any place, even in the polite and tactful way in which the Drayton would probably do it, that disturbed her.” (Larsen 16). The fear of not being accepted for who you are caused these women to pass for someone they were not. As human beings, everyone should be accepted for who they are and not feel pressured to pass for something you are
Nella Larsen talks about this in her novel Passing. The Novel Passing by Nella Larsen is about two distant friends Clare Kendry and Irene Redfield. Both of these women are African American who have the “privilege” of being able to pass as White women. However, Irene still identify with her African American Roots while Clare identify solely as a White woman. African Americans were not allowed in certain restaurants, schools, universities, theaters, and other public places which made Irene and Clare feel like they had to “pass” in order to be accepted. “Irene felt, in turn, anger, scorn, and fear slide over her. It wasn't that she was ashamed of being Negro, or even of having it declared, it was the idea of being ejected from any place, even in the polite and tactful way in which the Drayton would probably do it, that disturbed her.” (Larsen 16). The fear of not being accepted for who you are caused these women to pass for someone they were not. As human beings, everyone should be accepted for who they are and not feel pressured to pass for something you are