1. Class 6
EWRT 1B

2. AGENDA
 Exam 1: Vocab and Terms
 Discussion:
 Kennedy
 QHQ: The Human Stain
 QHQ: "The Passing of Grandison”
 Presentation: Introduction to Essay 2:
 In-Class Writing: Essay 2 Brainstorming

3. Terms Exam 1
 You have 20
minutes to
complete the
exam.
 Death Penalty 

4. Discussion:
“Racial Segregation” Randall Kennedy
The Human Stain Phillip Roth
"The Passing of Grandison” Charles Chesnutt

5. Kennedy
• Some people think it’s a wrong thing to pass, but I honestly can see here it’s
justified and done for a reason if there’s this many cases for doing it. It’s like
robbing somebody to feed your family, most would say that guy’s a criminal,
some would see WHY he did it, and recognize the bigger problem
CATALYZING this epidemic.
• Rachel Kennedy
• After reading about her passing as white not visually but aurally, I somehow
felt connection between her and me. I am a Chinese, but I never tried to
pass that I’m not visually; however, I tried to pretend to be a good English
speaker because I can make more friends while the author’s mother (Rachel
Kennedy) tried to be a white English speaker just so she can make a little
money.
• It definitely speaks to me that passing is not just about color or physical
appearance but rather conceptual. In order to pass successfully people need
to understand or believe you as such thing and not exclusively “see” you that
way; it’s more of the concept they have in mind as opposed to the reality of

6. • Ellen Craft
• This story really caught my eye. Her husband posed as her slave
and she posed as a man in order to keep him and herself safe. I can
understand passing for love, but not for money or power like Jack
did.
• I feel like this story takes passing to a whole different level because
she is passing as a different gender which can completely ruin her if
she keeps it going for any longer.
• this really shows me how crazy it was during those times and what
people were willing to do to get by. […[ But its something we won’t
understand; only the people like Ellen will ever understand.
• Not only is what she did a really risky act, but it was also every brave
and smart of her to think of something like this. […] It made me
realize that sometimes passing to help someone and help yourself is
actually necessary if you want to survive.
• The reaffirmation of what people were forced to do because of the
harshness of a racially segregated society was really startling to read
over and think about.
• By taking a risk and passing as a white man she was able to attain
freedom for herself and her husband. This just shows how strong a
love can be and how it can persevere in such dire circumstances.

7. • Walter White:
• I was astonished by the lengths Walter White went to in
order to reveal some of the oppression and violent actions
that African-Americans faced.
• They thought he [White’s father] was white, so he went to
the white medical ward where he was being treated until
they realized he was black and then sent him to the black
ward.
• To be denied the same medical treatment which could have
saved a man’s life simply because he was “contaminating”
the white man’s air is just outright ignorant and unjustifiable.
• White effectively says that he would rather be a black man,
that he would rather own his identity despite the
discrimination and suffering that he will have to endure, than
associate himself with a race that is firmly convinced that no
matter how low a white man could sink, that he would
always be superior to any black.
• White passed to investigate lynching’s of Negros in the

8. • Anita Hemmings
• She uses her light skin to obtain a degree at Vassar.
• This story shows that even if someone was to be caught passing, with
hard work and dedication, they can still earn the trust and respect of
others.
• Passing helped her […], but in the end it did not create much of a
difference.
• This kind of passing is widely beneficial to both society and the
individual.
• It showed me that passing is needed so that we can get things done.
For example if people had not passed as white then we would not have
this freedom and slavery would still exist. They were able to break
barriers and slowly start this movement to promote civil rights.
• Alice Jones
• married a white man. When the man’s parents found out about his
marriage, they objected.
• Kip [the groom] claims that he has been lied to and didn’t know that Alice
was black. As a defense Alice tells the court that they have a sexual
relationship before and after the marriage.
• Not only was she sued by he husband, but she was literally, examined by
all the male members of the jury [to prove] that she undoubtedly looked

9. Mark L. Stebbins story on page 17.
It was claimed by his political rivals that Stebbin’s passed as black, but
in reality [he] was white. His intention was to do this, so he could obtain
more votes. What surprises me the most about this, is people are doing
this even today in modern times. This time, it’s the other way around
compared to what we have been talking about. What influences me the
most about this, is how I can’t take people for granted like I have in the
past. The more I can read about the realities of our world, the better
ideas I can develop on how to apply myself in this world.
• A story I can relate to from Kennedy’s article is when he talks about
immigrants coming to the United States for better opportunities. There
are times where Mexican immigrants are seen as people in the United
States taking other jobs away, on welfare, causing problems, and
taking advantage of opportunities Americans can receive. I
understand how passing helps you receive better opportunities and
helps you be accepted in the American society. I have heard people
oppress undocumented immigrants and I feel really uncomfortable but
I just keep quiet.

10. • Reba Lee:
• In the story “I passed for white,” she wrote about passing for
white but then realizing that she wasn’t happy with white
people. This story interested me very much because of the
realization Reba had when associating with whites. She
noticed that they weren’t happy themselves.
• This story made me realize how hard it must’ve been for Lee
to choose one racial lineage because she’s mixed. For one
she wanted all the White privileges but at the same time she
was resentful.
• Gregory Howard Williams:
• after living your life as “white” and out of no where, finding
out you are mixed would be devastating, especially in that
time period where life was a living hell.
• The Healys
• Although they were considered as “passing,” the children

11. The Human Stain
• Do you think that Coleman Silk had the intention to insult the students by saying “Do
they exist or are they spooks?”
• Do you think that Coleman Silk overreacted to the judgment by the school?
• Why didn’t Coleman just tell the truth about his identity to everyone at the college
that was accusing him of racism?
• Do you think Coleman Silk pretending he was white was beneficial to him?
• What really possessed Coleman to keep the lie going for so long?
• How hard was it for Coleman to pass as Jewish/white?
• Why didn’t Coleman introduce his wife to his mother?
• In what way did Coleman’s lie about his race affect his marriage with his wife?
• Was it worth living a lie? Or would Coleman have had a fair judgment if he would
have come out straight, and propose he was black?
• Why was Coleman’s girlfriend not willing to spend the rest of her life with him?
• After Coleman’s girlfriend told him that she could not be with him, Coleman hits his
opponent like he hates black people: is he just mad that he can’t be with his girlfriend
because he is black?
• Why did Coleman not tell his girlfriend about his mother being black before they met
in person?
• What was the main reason his [girlfriend] decided to leave Coleman? Was it for lying
or for the color of his background?”

12. • If Coleman did not want to be rejected, why did he tell Faunia at the end of the
movie?
• At the end of the film, do you think Coleman told Faunia his secret?
• Why does Coleman tell Faunia that he is black but not Iris?
• Can you really love someone if you don’t know everything about them?
• How would you know it would be the right time to tell your life story to
someone?
• Do you think Coleman and Faunia found some sort of peace just before their
deaths?
• Why do you think Coleman stayed even when Faunia would yell at him and tell
him to leave?
• What was the significance of the crow in the cage?
• Can society lead you to hate your own race?
• Is Faunia just using Coleman to cover her sorrow?
• Is Faunia passing?
• Is Lester passing?
• Why did Zuckerman say, “telling the truth is the one thing Coleman could not
do?”
• How does “The Human Stain” relate to what we’ve discussed in class?
• Are the ideas of race, passing, and prejudice the only factors from the
movie, that we’ve discussed in class?

13. "The Passing of Grandison”
• What was the author’s purpose in the Grandison story?
• What is the point of this story?
• Why was Grandison so loyal?
• Why is Grandison against freedom at the beginning of the story?
• If Dick had told Grandison that he was going to set him free during the trip before
they left Kentucky, would Grandison have gone with him up north still?
• What would have happened if Grandison had left during the trip?
• Do you think the ending would be different if [Dick had taken] Tom instead of
Grandison?
• Did Grandison plan on passing as a faithful slave and then escape with his family
the whole time? Or did Dick’s abandoning of him contribute to Grandison’s plan to
escape?
• If Dick had just shared his thoughts with Grandison prior to heading North, would
Grandison agreed and would he have brought his family?
• What kind of help did Grandison really get escaping?
• What did Grandison experience in Canada that made him decide to come release
his whole family?
• How do you think Grandison felt, looking back at the colonel as he stood on that
boat leading toward freedom?

14. • In the story, Dick Owens is not considered the most hard-working
individual. How did it effect his relationships with others? Why does
Dick Owens behave this way?
• Does the story tell the reader if Dick Owens starts to be a hard working
individual over time, or does he never change throughout the story?
• Why did Dick try so hard to impress Charity? What was so special
about her
• Why does Dick want to impress his wife so badly that he is willing
to do something illegal?
• Why couldn’t Dick come up with something original [to impress his gf?
• Can Dick’s actions of attempting to allow Grandison to escape slavery
be considered moral in nature even though he was doing it for selfish
reasons and not because of his convictions of the abolition of slavery.
• Dick’s intentions of setting Grandison free was good, but was it
right?
• Why does Dick’s wife not like her husband?
• Since Dick has a wealthy dad and will inherit his fortunes, why does
he go so far to impress his girlfriend when he could get any other girl?
• How does dick feel after so many of his fathers slaves ran away, partly
due to him taking Grandison up north
• In what ways were Dick Owens and Grandison alike?

15. Introduction to Essay 2:
“If passing for white will get a fellow better accommodations
on the train, better seats in the theatre, immunity from
insults in public places, and may even save his life from a
mob,” wrote William Pickens, “only idiots would fail to seize
the advantages of passing, at least occasionally if not
permanently” (“Racial Segregation,” Opportunity, December
1927 (3).
Write an essay of 750 to 1000 words (3-4 pages) arguing
for or against William Pickens’s statement. Use support
from the texts you have read so far, our discussions, and
your own insights. Remember to format your essay in MLA
style. This essay will require citations and a works cited
page.

16. The Prompt:
If passing for white will get a fellow better accommodations on the train,
better seats in the theatre, immunity from insults in public places, and may
even save his life from a mob,” only idiots would fail to seize the
advantages of passing, at least occasionally if not permanently.”
Write an essay of 750 to 1000 words arguing for or against William
Pickens’s statement. Use support from the texts you have read so far, our
discussions, and your own insights.
Do you agree with Pickens's
statement?
If yes, why?
If no, why not?

17. HOMEWORK
 Reading: Hughes: "Who's
Passing for Who?”
 Post #9 : QHQ: “Who’s
Passing for Who?”
 Think about Pickens’s
statement and whether you
agree with it or not.
Consider which texts you
might use to support your
beliefs.