Short Fiction — Nella Larsen

Passing (1929)Passing is a novella about two light-skinned Black women, Clare Kendry and Irene Redfield, who reunite in 1920s Harlem. Clare passes as white and is married to a racist white man who doesn't know her true identity. Irene, who embraces her Black identity, is both fascinated and disturbed by Clare's risky life. As Clare tries to re-enter Black society through Irene's social circle, tensions rise, leading to a dramatic and ambiguous ending involving Clare's mysterious death.Sanctuary (1930)Sanctuary is a short story centering on a woman named Annie Poole, who unknowingly protects the man who murdered her son. A wounded fugitive, Obadiah, seeks shelter in her home, and she hides him from the authorities. Only later does she discover he is her son's killer. The story ends with Annie choosing not to betray him, highlighting the complexity of morality, motherhood, and racial injustice.