Intricacies of Passing

Dear Elia Kazan (Pinky Director)

In Pinky’s actions of passing as a white woman and her decision to return to her hometown, much is revealed, including the relationship between desire to return home, dangers of being revealed, effects on the family that is left behind, and the gain/losses when passing.While it is important that you brought up these important questions, I am fascinated by the ways you presented these issues. For example, one particularly common trait of Pinky’s interactions when she returns home is her tendency to unintentionally pass, or not actively recognizing her identity with partial Negro roots until confronted. It should also be noted that Pinky’s transition to pass as white seemed to be almost a gradual decision and one that she had moral hesitation to make (through being mistaken and eventually stopping writing to her grandma). However, though Pinky understands her role to protect her black identity and thus “her people”, she does not necessarily actually go do so, and tries to live the life with the maximum benefit (exploiting the benefit of the doubt in certain situations for others ignorance of her blackness). In the scene to consider is when Pinky goes to the store to buy a black veil, she is prepared to be served and pay for the cheaper price. Interestingly, she does not actively pass as white (by denying her black roots), but will not be completely upfront about it.