Passing...

I recently read Nella Larson's book that explores the issue of passing. The term literally refers to Black people "passing" as white people and whites as black - an occurance that increased with mixing. More than race though, the book discusses how the characters passed in so many areas of their life: mothers passing as childless, passing as heterosexual, passing as American. The result is a state of tension of being "inbetween." We can call it "passing" but its just the same as being "two-faced" or "lukewarm." Life seems to be a wall of masks at times; for every situation we pick a different mask to wear. The problem with this is a superficiality that doesn't suit our desire for something genuine and true. Every area of life seems to have knockoffs...friendships, religion, fashion..you name and there is a fake version. Thus I think we are left constantly searching for something "real."
Naturally I got to thinking about my own life and the ways I "pass" as one thing or another. It is difficult to be pulled in two directions but I think it can be part of immerging as your true self. Still at other times it is the tension between what I want and what I ought.
The simple truth is that one time or another we all put on a mask. Sometimes it takes serious talent to wear the mask convincingly but I don't think it is always wrong.
I'm not really sure how to end this post...maybe it doesn't