"Passing" is a novel written by Nella Larsen, first published in 1929. Set in Harlem during the 1920s, the story revolves around the lives of two light-skinned African American women, Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry, who are childhood friends and are both able to "pass" as white due to their fair complexions. "Passing" is celebrated for its exploration of racial and gender identity, as well as its nuanced portrayal of the complexities surrounding the practice of passing in a society marked by racial prejudice and discrimination. The novel raises thought-provoking questions about the choices individuals make in defining their identity and the societal pressures that shape those decisions.