Being Black Being White: Passing in Harlem, Black in Paris

Lecture Center 20

This research paper examines the racial injustices of African American women during the 1920s and early 1930s, a time of segregation and isolation for blacks. By examining the social inequalities that black women faced, I also highlight the ways in which they coped with racism. African American women faced many other significant social factors that made them vulnerable. Due to their gender, black women were labeled as “second-class” citizens, and unfortunately because of their race society also denied them opportunities and benefits. In order to analyze how racism affected black women and the decisions they made, I focused on Josephine Baker a black entertainer who started her stardom abroad in Paris, France, and Clara Kendry a character in Nella Larson semi-autobiographical novel Passing. This paper serves to compare and contrast both women and the journey they embarked on in an attempt to escape the consequences of racism. Data collected from videos, documentaries, and novels highlights the way in which Josephine Baker embraced her African roots and how the people of Paris embraced her talents despite the color of her skin. Meanwhile, the story of Clara Kendry shows how an African American woman rejected her black ethnicity to “pass” as a white woman to achieve social acceptance. However, this paper challenges the idea that fame abroad and passing were successful methods for coping with racism. Despite the fame and independence Josephine Baker had, once she returned home to America her race came before her career, and she too was a victim of racism. As for Clare Kendry, her story shows how one cannot successfully live a double life without being constantly reminded of your true identity.