Difference between revisions of "328 2010--Week 8 Questions/Comments"
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I agree with Sarah about how intriguing this passage was. After reading this excerpt, I think that Nella Larsen's topic was something that had crossed the minds of many African Americans at the time. The idea of "passing" into another life, just to experience the other side, was something that I'm sure, African American men and women all had imagined at some point. It was sad though, how Clare had to hide her race, at the request of her aunts. It was interesting to me that although she lived with her aunts, she was still expected to "doing all the housework, and most of the washing." (P. 140) In the story, Clare even says that she had "Negro blood" and apparently that is why she did all the housework, and it was almost expected of her because of her race. The Harlem Renaissance gave Nella Larsen a way to voice this imaginative idea, to maybe give the rest of the world the idea that African Americans merely wanted to be like everyone else, and she portrayed this by showing how important "passing" was for Clare. -- Alex M. | I agree with Sarah about how intriguing this passage was. After reading this excerpt, I think that Nella Larsen's topic was something that had crossed the minds of many African Americans at the time. The idea of "passing" into another life, just to experience the other side, was something that I'm sure, African American men and women all had imagined at some point. It was sad though, how Clare had to hide her race, at the request of her aunts. It was interesting to me that although she lived with her aunts, she was still expected to "doing all the housework, and most of the washing." (P. 140) In the story, Clare even says that she had "Negro blood" and apparently that is why she did all the housework, and it was almost expected of her because of her race. The Harlem Renaissance gave Nella Larsen a way to voice this imaginative idea, to maybe give the rest of the world the idea that African Americans merely wanted to be like everyone else, and she portrayed this by showing how important "passing" was for Clare. -- Alex M. | ||
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| + | The negative stereotypes associated with African Americans really stands out in this passage and I think they are important to emphasizing why an African American would consider "passing." They include African Americans being poor, domestic servants, charity cases, promiscuous, and inferior to whites. Even if they were hard-working or good people, African Americans had to overcome some rather harsh stereotypes. I can definitely see trying to "pass" as a white and living with less trials as tempting. On another note, Clare having to hide her race, and being able to, made me think of the light skinned black models on the magazine covers we looked at in class. While they were clearly appealing to African American audiences, I feel like the magazines were putting out a message that said "being white is where it is at!" So, perhaps light skinned black women did try "passing" as whites by downplaying their color and race? I am sure make-up made that feat much easier. -- CBrau | ||
