Passing Strange: A Gilded Age Tale of Love and Deception Across the Color Line
You can view this book's Amazon detail page here.
Interesting short story, term paper or maybe even thesis, but that’s about it. Clarence King, famous, late 19th century explorer and adventurer. Founder and first head of the USGS led a double life – as a famous, White House visiting, toast of the town scientist and innovator who was single and white (that is, Caucasian) and as a married, father, Pullman Porter black (as in African American) man.
In an era when communication and transportation was poor and segregation was strong, people “passing” (as in passing as or passing for) another race, creed, color, religion or even sex, was easier than we can imagine today. For a very high profile person to do so is an interesting story, but not worthy of a book, IMO. Not a complete waste of time, but it’s easy to find entertainment or education elsewhere.
- Started reading:
- 6th March 2010
- Finished reading:
- 19th March 2010