Passing

 Passing was published in 1929 but has been made into a movie in 2021 and will be released on Netflix later this year. I plan to watch it. The author is Nella Larson. The story takes place in Harlem. Two girlfriends, Claire and Irene, have a mixed racial heritage. Both girls live comfortably in the upper middle class but they take two different paths in life. Claire's father dies and she is taken out to state to live with two Caucasian aunts. Claire marries a rich white man and has two children while living in Europe. Irene stays in Harlem, marries a physician, and has two children. Ten years later Irene is having tea at a hotel in Chicago when Claire approaches her. Irene and Claire reconnect. Claire is desperate to reconnect with Irene and her old neighborhood while Irene is reluctant. Irene senses something reckless and dangerous about Claire. Eventually Irene meets Claire's husband who turns out to be a loudmouth racist bigot who spouts venomous speech not comprehending that he is the only white person in the room. He just assumes everyone there is white. Claire's decision to pass herself off as white has tragic consequences. The book mentions the 1925 trial of Rhinelander versus Rhinelander. Mister Rhinelander sued Mrs. Rhinelander for not telling him of her mixed heritage before marrying him. Mrs. Rhinelander said her racial identity was obvious and did not need to be stated. Although the court found in favor of Mrs. Rhinelander, neither one of them won because their most intimate details were out in public. Mrs. Rhinelander even had to partially undress so the jury could see the color of her skin. I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to see the movie.