I thought there was a notable omission in
Passing of the role that skin color, specifically paleness, played within the black community. The ball, with its mingled skin tones, represented an ideal that didn't in fact obtain. I thought this Wikipedia article about
the Brown Paper Bag Test was illuminating.
It makes one wonder to what extent Brian's desire to escape a racist society had to do with treatment by racist whites and to what extent to his resentment at the stature given to lighter skins by his fellow blacks. Irene's willingness to pass for convenience, perhaps Brian's increased stature through having a "whiter" wife, would be indicative of further strains within their marriage. One son could pass (and would thus qualify for more privileges with blacks); the other could not. It's easy to understand that Irene wouldn't want to upstakes and relocate to Brazil, but what an element of that she didn't want to give up her privileges as a pale-skinned black to live in a society where that didn't count?