The Hypocrisy of Racism
Most of Larsen’s heroines are of mixed race like herself and thus born with skin of such a pigmentation that they can “pass” for white. Obviously, this is a central thematic concern of her novel Passing, (although it is arguable whether or not it is the central theme, but more on that later. However, it is also at the center of Helga Crane’s odyssey through Quicksand. “Passing” is not merely about variations in pigment, however; it is a ploy which ultimately exposes the inherent racism of a society willing to accept or deny privilege to a person solely on the color of their skin rather than the content of their character. Whenever the secret of a person who is “passing” is exposed for one reason or another, anyone who dismisses the very same person they accepted when thinking they were white cannot escape the characterization of racist no matter how liberal-minded and progressive they may think they are. Ultimately, the theme of “passing” is not really about the person doing it, but the reaction of around them.
The Tie That Binds
Within the world of black society in Larsen’s stories, the overarching tie that binds people together most strongly is not money nor even family, but race. Tension, envy and jealousy may exist between those with dark skin and those with light skin, but ultimately all recognize the enemy is oppressive white society. One might well expect such loyalty against a common enemy from those who not family, but in the story “Sanctuary” the true strength of this bond is tested when a black mother protects the black boy who killed her own son. This extension of the tie binding blacks together is not made because she actually cares about the killer or because she sees her son in his or that he was a friend. There is just one reason she protects him: because he is black and because she knows what his fate will be if turned out to the justice system of whites.
Deception
Deception is prevalent to one degree or another and in one way or another throughout each of the stories told in this collection. The opening story, “The Wrong Man” is basically just one long adventure of deception, attempts at deception, purposeful deception and, in the end, an unintended revelation of the truth based on an unintended deception. Those light-skinned characters passing for white are engaged in a dual deception: fooling white society while they try to fool themselves into believing that anything occurring while doing so is not a complete illusion. Annie Poole engages in arguably the most striking act of deception when lies to the Sheriff in order to protect the black boy who killed her own son from the white arm of the law. Or, perhaps, that honor goes to the unnamed protagonist of “Freedom” whose entire interior monologue proves to be a breathtaking panorama of self-deception which even he cannot convince himself to belief by the story’s end.
