Passing

Exploring themes of racial and sexual identity, the novel follows Clare Kendry, a light-skinned African American woman who chooses to pass as white, marrying a racist white man and severing ties with her past. In contrast, her childhood friend Irene Redfield embraces her heritage while feeling both drawn to and repulsed by Clare's choices. Their interactions in Harlem reveal Clare's complex feelings of longing for Irene's identity, leading to a tragic confrontation with the consequences of her decision to live a life of racial masquerade.