Larsen s Passing Clare Kendry And The Race Problem

Larsen’s Passing: Clare Kendry and The Race Problem Since before the birth of America, race has been a common denominator in determining the placement, treatment and opportunities given to certain groups. Native-Americans were assimilated or murdered in mass quantities and driven from their land because they were deemed inferior by whites who settled here. Like Native-Americans, African-Americans were judged based on their skin color and perceived ability to live among those who took over the country. African-Americans were brought over by the thousands on ships and placed in slavery as a result of not being civilized enough to live independently. Knowing all of this, race is something that individuals attempt to ignore by saying that†¦show more content†¦For those reasons among others, Jefferson felt that it should always be appropriate for whites to take responsibility of them because their frame of mind wasn’t adequate enough for them to be self-sufficient. Samuel Morton went on to echo Thomas Jefferson’s sentiments regarding African-Americans when he compiled Crania Americana, written in 1839, and argued, â€Å"In disposition the negro is joyous, flexible, and indolent; while the many nations which compose this race present a singular diversity of intellectual character, of which the far extreme is the lowest grade of humanity,† (7). The repeated publication of the inferiority of the black race caused a wealth of contention in the country as it became divided concerning race relations and ethical treatment. Disdain for racial equality is even perpetuated by characters in Larsen’s short novel, demonstrating that the issue at hand most certainly has been conceived from mentalities of the public. Written in the earlier half of the 20th century, Passing is a plausible representation of race and community in the 1920s, as Americans remained separated on their ideas about how to deal with the proposed â€Å"race proble m.† Like other authors before her, Larsen focuses on depicting both sides of the fence by giving the audience two biracial women. One lives in a black community and is immersed in African-American culture, and the otherShow MoreRelatedNella Larsens Passing Essay2911 Words   |  12 PagesNella Larsens Passing The Harlem Renaissance was a turning point for many African Americans. A vast amount of literature was created specifically for this group during this era. It was a period when the African American was in vogue and white thinkers and writers were devoting a considerable amount of attention to them (Taylor 91, 90). For the first time, African Americans were being told that it was okay to be proud of who they were. 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