A00337 - Passing for White and Acting White

Reading about the success story of the Cardozo Sisters and the success they were able to achieve by, at times, passing for white caused me to pause to think about a practice that has played a historical role in my family and, perhaps, a psychological role in me.  


I had not thought about Passing in any detail in recent years, so I went to Wikipedia and read this rather comprehensive article on the multi-cultural, multi-racial practice of Passing through time up to today.  


I also took a look at a related concept ... the concept of acting white


In reading the bios for many of the Black men of Amherst during the early years of the 20th century, one cannot escape the fact that most of the "Black" men were fair skinned individuals, and almost all of the "Black" men were adept at navigating in a white world ... and did so with great success.

I must admit that I reserve judgment on any individual who decides to pass and who decides to act white.  I reserve judgment because, in 1909, a certain relative of mine was reputedly the first African American to obtain a plot of land in the Athabasca farmland region in the province of Alberta, Canada.  And he was able to do so because he could pass for white.  His success enabled other African Americans to obtain lots to form the community of Amber Valley and that is part of my history.

Additionally, as I have been told for more than 60 years now, I have tended to be perceived as "acting white" in so many ways.  I think the perceptions have to a certain extent been accurate but, surprisingly, during my stay at Amherst College, I found that I was not the only one that was so perceived.  Indeed, in some ways, being able to "act white" seems to have been one of the great traits for "black" success at Amherst College.  Perhaps, it no longer is the case.  But then again, given recent changes in admission rates, perhaps such a trait will predominate again.

I do so sadly wonder.

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins
Class of 1975 
Fairfield, California
October 16, 2024

  

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