How passing affected the African American community and is still being used today

 ChaMiyah Autry

English 2016-44378

Ms.Harris

November 17,2022

How passing affected the African American community and is still being used today

When the great migration happened, many African Americans moved to New York because they heard there were better opportunities there. When they arrived in New York going through the Harlem Renaissance, many expected to make money off their talents. Many African Americans were still poor because their music or art careers didn't take off how they expected. This resulted in many using passing as a way for financial gain.

Over the years, passing has caused a division in the African American community. When passing first became a thing there were two groups lighter-skinned African Americans and darker-skinned African Americans. The lighter-skinned group was able to pass as white because most of them were lighter than a brown paper bag. If you could pass the paper bag test, you could earn a chance at a better life and be accepted into society. In the article, "All Things Interesting", states, “And while the ideas behind the brown paper bag test originated in the earliest days of slavery, it led to a long discriminatory tradition of colorism that explicitly privileged light skin over dark well into the 20th century.” This caused darker skinned African Americans to miss out on many job opportunities or be seen as less than others. In Homegoing, Robert used his skin color to be accepted and for his financial gain. With Robert being lightskin it was easy for him to blend in; all he had to do was change his style of dress. Once he started passing for white, he had a chance at a better life. The book states, He looked so white now, it only took a few seconds for her to lose him

completely, just one white face among the many, all bustling up and down the sidewalks. After two weeks in Manhattan, Robert found a job.” Once Robert started passing or “blending” in, he could find a job.


Today, some people still see being a “light skin” African American as more favorable to society. People are more likely to accept someone who has a straighter hair texture and lighter skin over someone who is dark skin with a kinky hair texture. Many light skin people still use passing today without even knowing it. They do this simply because of the fact their skin tone is more acceptable to society. When they find themselves in an all-white space, it's easier for them to blend in because of their skin tone, compared to them trying to fit into a space with darker skin tones. Passing even happens when they are filling out the race boxes on paperwork. They more often choose the “white” box for race when their skin is closer to white. Doing this makes it seem like they are completely abandoning their real racial identity. In the article, “Time,” it states, “ a nurse presented me with an intake form, complete with those stupid checkboxes asking about your race….Without thinking it through, I marked myself white.” Many people do this because they know they will get treated better by saying they are white or they are used to passing as white. 

In conclusion, passing is used by many light skin African Americans to find better jobs, be accepted into society and many more reasons. It became common during the Great Migration when many were looking for better job opportunities. It can still be seen today whether it's on purpose or intentional. Passing will always be seen as one of the main causes there is a division in the African American community.

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