Racial Passing and Identity

Where it surfaces

• Plum Bun: A Novel Without a Moral

  Central theme as Mattie passes for white, and Angela begins to internalize the possibilities and costs of such a choice.

• Home

  The chapter delves into the Murray family's navigation of racial identity, particularly through Mattie's passing and its impact on Angela's sense of self.

• I

  The chapter centers on Mattie's casual 'passing' as white and Angela's growing belief that whiteness is essential for a life of glamour and freedom, highlighting the psychological and familial complexities of racial identity.

• IV

  Angela's friendship with Mary Hastings collapses when Mary learns Angela is colored, forcing Angela to confront the fragility of relationships built on hidden identity.

• VI

  Angela decides to pass as white in New York, severing ties with her past and family to pursue a freer life.

• I

  Angela passes as white in New York, adopting the name Angèle Mory, and reflects on the privileges and freedoms this affords her.

• III

  Angela's interactions with Miss Powell and her reflections on her own passing highlight the complexities of racial identity and the psychological barriers between black and white worlds.

• IV

  Angela revels in the freedom her passing affords her, but witnessing a Black couple's rejection forces her to confront the moral cost of her deception.

• V

  Angela's strategic concealment of her racial identity is evident as she plans to wear a veil when meeting her sister Virginia to avoid recognition by porters, highlighting the constant negotiation of identity in her pursuit of a new life.

• VI

  Angela's decision to pass as white forces her to deny her sister in public, revealing the deep personal cost and moral conflict inherent in passing.

• VII

  Angela's passing as white creates a fundamental rift with Virginia, who feels betrayed and questions the integrity of their bond.

• Plum Bun

  Angela's choice to pass as white drives the narrative, highlighting the psychological cost and societal pressures.

• I

  Angela's internal conflict about her relationship with Roger is tied to her hidden racial identity and the risks of exposure.

• III

  Angela's life as a white-passing woman creates a rift with her sister Virginia, who lives openly as Black. Angela's insistence on secrecy and her discomfort with Virginia's visible Black social circle highlight the tensions of passing.

• Home Again

  Angela's return home forces a confrontation with her dual identity as a passer and her authentic self.

• II

  Angela reflects on her mother's words about race and considers moving between racial identities as a practical strategy.

• IV

  Anthony's story reveals the violent consequences of racial identity in the South, and his own vow to never entangle with white people contrasts with Angela's passing.

• V

  The chapter centers on the revelation that both Angela and Anthony have been passing as white, and the devastating consequences of this deception on their relationship and sense of self.

• Chapter VI

  Angela reconnects with her Black heritage, choosing to spend time in Harlem and avoid passing, though she remains aware of the privileges her appearance affords.

• I

  Angela, who has been passing as white, publicly declares her Black identity to defend Miss Powell, forcing her to confront the consequences of her choice.