Passing: When People Can't Be Who They Are

(Paperback)

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Despite the many social changes of the last half-century, many Americans still "pass:" black for white, gay for straight, and now in many new ways as well. We tend to think of passing in negative terms-as deceitful, cowardly, a betrayal of one's self. But this compassionate book reveals that many passers today are people of good heart and purpose whose decision to pass is an attempt to bypass injustice, and to be more truly themselves. Passing tells the poignant, complicated life stories of six present day "passers" whose stories, interwoven with others from history, literature, and life, explore the social realities which make passing an option in our culture and its logistical, emotional and moral consequences. They also raise fascinating questions about both the nature of identity and the structure of society.

Author Bio

Brooke Kroeger is the author of two biographies, Nellie Bly: Daredevil, Reporter, Feminist, and Fannie: The Talent for Success of Writer Fannie Hurst and is an associate professor of journalism at New York University. A former foreign correspondent and editor, she has written widely for newspapers and magazines.