Passing by Nella Larsen, published in 1929, is a powerful novel exploring race, identity, and the concept of "passing" in Harlem during the Harlem Renaissance. The story centers on two childhood friends, Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry, both light-skinned Black women who have taken different paths regarding their racial identity. Clare "passes" as white, concealing her Black heritage and marrying a wealthy, openly racist white man, while Irene remains in the Black community and lives as a middle-class, respectable woman in Harlem.
As their lives intersect, Irene becomes fascinated-and increasingly disturbed-by Clare's audacious approach to identity and societal boundaries. Larsen uses their complex relationship to examine the psychological and social costs of passing and the fraught nature of race, class, and gender in America. The novel's tense and ambiguous ending has sparked much discussion about themes of jealousy, loyalty, and the boundaries people create around themselves and others. Passing remains a significant work for its nuanced portrayal of identity and social constraints and its relevance to discussions on race and belonging.