Group 3 Blog Post – Hudson, Marlena, Reem, and Jack

Plum Bun by Jessie Fauset follows Angela Murray through the 1920s as she transitions from being a young African-American girl living in Philadelphia with her family to when she decides to move to New York City and “pass” for white.  Angela grows up with a little sister – Virginia – who has darker skin than her, as does her father.  However, Angela’s mother also has lighter skin and they pass together.  As a result of her experiences “passing,” during which she has the freedom to go to nice, white-only places, Angela believes that: “The great rewards of life riches, glamour, pleasure, are for white people only” (10).  So, when Angela’s darker skinned father and sister pass by and her and her mother do not say anything, she remarks, “It’s a good thing Papa didn’t see us, you’d have had to speak to him, wouldn’t you?” (11)  While the reader knows that Angela’s mother later confessed to her husband what happened and apologized for it, Angela does not know this and does not see anything wrong with what happened.

            This incident foreshadows what Angela goes on to do later in the book.  After both of her parents die, Angela once again puts being white and the greater freedom it offers before her family and blackness.  She leaves behind her sister and her previous racial identity to “pass” for being white in New York City in order to “launch out ‘into a freer, fuller life’” (48).  Her move was sparked by her art teacher’s reaction after he found she was white, which made him treat her differently.  Although Angela did nothing differently, he had to re-categorize her.  The incident highlights how volatile the terrain of identity and race is and how sloppy it is.  Afterward, Angela concludes that if “the fact of your racial connection was not made known,” then it is as good as being white and you can enjoy “the good things of life” (27).  So Angela moved.

            In New York City Angele changes her name and “passes” for white and goes to Cooper Union to study art.  She enjoys her life so much doing this as she is able to explore all of the opportunities that whites are, such as going to the Ritz.  Through a fellow classmate Angela meets Roger Fielding who courts her.  In him Angela see a wealthy, white man who can secure her place in society and offer her power, wealth, and influence and allow her to enjoy the finer things in life, which she wants to do.  However, one night at dinner she finds out that Roger is horribly racist after he ensures that African-Americans attempting to dine at the same restaurant as them are kicked out.  Afterward, Angela is upset and does not see him for a while, but she eventually gets over it because she enjoys him and his wealth and the supposed happiness he has to offer.  So, when Virginia comes into town and meets Angela who runs into Roger right before, Angela acts like she does not know her own sister.  Although “passing” offers Angela all of the opportunities of white folk, it comes at a tremendous cost, leaving behind her personal history and family.