Quote:
Originally Posted by issybird
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? |
Is there any indication that shades of skin color would not have mattered in Brazil? I didn't get the impression that Brazil was anything Brian really knew about; it seemed to be part of a fantasy that he could run away from his current life rather than something he would ever do.
Brian seems to be as much of a racist as Jack; it makes me wonder why he chooses two light-skinned women. Unless he chooses them largely because they're light-skinned.