Passing by Nella Larsen tells the story of Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry, two African American women with light skin. While Irene lives openly as a Black woman, Clare secretly passes as white to gain social and economic advantages. When the two women meet again after many years, Clare becomes involved in Irene’s life and Harlem’s Black community.
As their friendship grows, Irene becomes increasingly uneasy about Clare’s influence on her family and her desire to live between two worlds. The novel explores themes of race, identity, social status, and belonging, ending with a tragic and ambiguous incident.