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This past week, I had to write an essay on a novel my English class just recently read. The novel, Passing, was written by Nella Larsen during the 1920s in Harlem. many people argue that the novel is about sexuality, but I truly believe the novel is about race. Here is why: Larsen presents two characters in the novel, Clare Kendry and Irene Redfield. Both characters are black who are passing for white because they are light-skinned African Americans. I think Nella Larsen’s novel is more about race because she is trying to present a deeper issue. I think this deeper issue is that race is a social concept and an institution. See, during those times race was a prejudice in American society. Even though racial issues are still present today, it was more apparent during those times. This is why I think Nella Larsen wrote this novel to focus on race so it can be a reflection of her time. She was trying to present the issues that were going on in her society through literature so that the issue can finally be addressed. Race is a big issue in American culture because of its history. This is why i think the inferior community value equality so much because they were denied. So, to add to the title of this blog in terms of the novel. I think “My black is beautiful” was heavily debated throughout the novel because these two characters were not comfortable in their own skin. And, this led to “My black is lies” because these two characters pretended to be something that they were not.