This Harlem Renaissance novella is a classic I first heard about in a book for the online African American History course I took through Yale Open (it's free! google it). This period of US History is fascinating to me, and I found Passing as an audiobook, read by the phenomenal narrator Robin Miles.

At its core, Passing is a suspense story, set against the real, racist backdrop of 1920s New York and Chicago. Larsen's protagonist, Irene Redfield, encounters a childhood friend, Clare Kendry, whose pale skin has allowed her to "pass" as a white woman, going so far as to marry and have a child with a white man who still does not know she's a Black woman. Irene herself has enjoyed the privilege of lighter skin to enter segregated establishments and "pass," but she married a Black man and does not hide her overall person. As the two reacquaint, Irene finds herself more and more uncomfortable with Clare. There is a real sense of discomfort, even fear, of this woman who's Black identity is hidden, putting her in constant danger of being found out by her white husband and society. What would happen to her and her daughter if she were found out? Irene fears being too closely involved, and yet over time, Clare finds ways to continuously wind herself into the life of Irene and her family.

What I found fascinating is this sketch of a period of time and a lived experience that completely takes me outside my modern white male world. It's a story by a Black woman and it centers Black women, recognizing the diversity and complexity within that identity. The supporting characters fill in the sketch of this world, adding to the myriad relationships within and between the Black and white communities. In a short novella, Larsen managed to paint a broad picture, with a never-quite-comfortable story that adds to the suspense and builds to a completely unexpected finish.

I recommend!