Mulattoes' Ethical Racial Identity Dilemma

Nella Larsen,as one of the most outstanding African American women writers in the Harlem Renaissance,is famous for two novels,Quicksand and Passing,of which the latter has attracted more attention in the academia because it deals with the unique theme of racial passing in American history.It describes the racial identity dilemma of two light-skinned female mulattoes,one choosing to stay in the Black community but experiencing a kind of psychological passing for White,while the other passing for White physically but longing for the Black life spiritually.So far,some scholars have discussed the theme of racial identity of mulattoes in the novel,but few have undertaken any research from the perspective of ethical literary criticism.Miscegenation is a unique phenomenon in the history of America,a society based on deep-rooted racism.In spite of the fact that American people are characterized by hybridity,any kind of sex between Black and White,including marriage,was forbidden legally until 1967.As a result,mulattoes often have to face the problem of racial identity,which is typically reflected in the two female protagonists of Passing.From the perspective of ethical literary criticism,it can be seen that their racial identity dilemma is characterized by double consciousness or split identity,that is,as both Black and White.In a white-dominated society with a racial system featured by dichotomy,female mulattoes tortured by racism,sexism and classism had no choice but to violate the social norms established by the mainstream society and passed for White in order to enjoy freedom and escape from oppression.The fact that mulattoes who were classified as Black could pass for White exposes the absurdity of American racial system and the hypocrisy of White purity.The tragic death of Clare suggests that passing for White is not a good ethical solution to mulattoes' racial identity dilemma.With the development of multiculturalism since the Civil Rights Movement,an independent racial identity has been officially recognized,providing an ethical foundation for the solution of the racial identity dilemma of mulattoes.They can also expect to find a way out with the possibility of the establishment of a post-racial society.