Imitation of Life is one my favorite movies and Passin’ by Karen E. Quinones Miller reminds me of the movie; except the movie took place over 60 years ago and the novel takes place in the new millennium with original twists and turns, of course.

Blue-eyed, blonde hair, and unbeknownst to many, African-American, Shanika Jackson is the apple of her family’s eyes. Although spoiled, she has always respected and admired her family, loved her blackness and felt comfortable in her skin. She is not hesitant to remind folks from whence she came or to let them know they should not get her nationality twisted. They should not be easily influenced by the light outer exterior, as she is all Black…and a strong black woman to boot. So, no one is more surprised and shocked than Shanika, when a potential employer suggests that she pass for white, after she is overlooked for an earlier position because she does not `look black enough’ for the position set aside for the lone black hire.

And, after all, whites already think she is white and there are more positions available at the firm for Caucasians. Once she has the job she can always tell them that she is black. With no other job opportunities on the horizon, and a new college grad with no credible experience in her field, the weeks turn into months and student loan payments loom in the background; Shanika desperately needs a job. She decides to do the unthinkable and the unbelievable…to pass as a white woman. But, while passing is easy to conceive, she is not prepared for the toil it will take on her or the backlash she will receive from family, friends or strangers.

One lie begets another and as the web she spins worsens her life spirals out of control; she appears to be a spectator rather than an actual participant in the series of events that occur. While she fools the white folks, fooling her own (i.e. blacks) is not so easy. She is too busy trying to cover her tracks to be concerned about hurting those she does not know, but her conscious and upbringing will not allow her to ignore the actions of those who matter the most. Her mother is disappointed and brokenhearted but never complains or mentions her daughter’s deceit; her brother is hurt and angry and questions how can she turn her back on her family and questions when is she going to lose the façade; a cousin with psychological problems and credibility issues is rightfully confused and befuddled. The only family member who appears unaffected is her dad. Well, he seems to be unmoved as he is by so many things, since he tends to live his life in a stupor.

As I read Passin’, I had flashbacks to paternal family members and my favorite movie, Imitation of Life. (If you have never watched this movie, you might want to.) Although, I did not agree with Shanika’s decision to pass, as I do not believe that anyone should ever deny their heritage, I found I could not dislike her either. At times, I really understood her plight and wanted to help her right her ways and find a positive outcome. Quinones Miller did a good job of presenting a young lady who was confused, immature, and at times selfish, but one who was also troubled because she got caught up in a situation with ramifications far beyond what she imagined. And the deeper Shanika dug the harder it became to escape the charade. She even had some redeeming qualities …enough that I could not hate her by the end of the book. Actually, I though she (and her friends) would make good candidates for Oprah or Dr. Phil’s show. I enjoy reading books that I believe can be made into movies for the big screen and Passin’ is one of those storylines. I recommend Passin’ to all who enjoy storylines dealing with young heroines, family matters, situations that do not have easy answers, characters that make you think and sensitive issues that continue to haunt the black community even in the new millennium.

Reviewed by Yasmin
APOOO BookClub

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