ANGELA MURRAY’S EXPERIENCE OF PASSING UP AS WHITE IN JESSIE REDMON FAUSET’S PLUM BUN

Ratna Asmarani Faculty of Humanities – Diponegoro University email: [email protected]

Abstract The aim of this paper is to analyze the experience of Angela Murray, the female mulatto protagonist, when she finally decides to pass as a white person in Plum Bun, a novel written by Jessie Redmon Fauset. Considering that the focus of analysis is a female, the feminist literary criticism is used as the main framework. The contextual method of analysis is supported by some concepts concerning skin color and passing. The result shows that Angela goes through three periods of her existence. At first she plays with her skin color by passing temporarily as white with her mulatto mother. Then she decides to pass permanently as white and moves to a different state in which she is involved in an intimate relationship with a wealthy racist white man and humiliatingly hurts her younger black sister, her black female acquaintance, and the man she actually loves. Finally she confesses her true racial heritage and makes amends to the people she has hurt and finds the happiness she has sought so far.

Keywords: skin color, passing as white, racist, racial heritage

PENGALAMAN ANGELA MURRAY MENJADI KULIT PUTIH DALAM PLUM BUN KARYA JESSIE REDMON FAUSET

Abstrak Tujuan dari makalah ini adalah untuk mengkaji pengalaman Angela Murray, protagonis mulato perempuan, ketika ia akhirnya memutuskan untuk ‘passing’ atau menjadi kulit putih dalam novel berjudul Plum Bun karya Jessie Redmon Fauset. Mengingat bahwa fokus analisis adalah seorang perempuan, kritik sastra feminis digunakan sebagai kerangka utama. Metode analisis kontekstual didukung dengan konsep tentang warna kulit dan ‘passing’. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahwa Angela melewati tiga periode keberadaan. Awalnya ia bermain-main dengan warna kulitnya dengan ‘passing’ sementara sebagai orang kulit putih bersama ibunya yang mulato. Kemudian ia memutuskan untuk ‘passing’ sebagai orang kulit putih secara permanen dan pindah ke negara bagian lain di mana ia terlibat dalam hubungan intim dengan laki-laki kulit putih kaya yang rasis dan melukai hati adik perempuannya yang berkulit hitam, kenalan perempuan yang berkulit hitam, dan laki-laki yang sebenarnya dicintainya. Akhirnya ia mengakui warisan rasialnya dan menebus kesalahan pada orang-orang yang telah disakitinya dan menemukan kebahagiaan yang selama ini dicarinya.

Kata kunci: warna kulit, ‘passing’ sebagai kulit putih, rasis, warisan rasial

Angela Murray’s Experience of Passing Up as White in Jessie Redmon Fauset’s Plum Bun 1 INTRODUCTION numerable advantages (Hobbs, 2014, p. Skin color has an important meaning 11). Those advantages attract light-skinned in the life of colored people, especially for person to pass as white. According to Wald the females, living in the still racist society (2000) “passing” means traversing the color of America in the 1930s. Having a light line or switching into whites to avoid de­ skin is often considered as a merit because grading racial attitude and treatment (p. the normative standard is being white. 6). In other words, the action of passing Being able to mingle or to enter the closed as white is used as a means to have a much white circle is a dream for many light- better life, chance, and future for the mixed- skinned females because it is believed to raced people. open to an easy, luxurious, and prestigious life. Jessie Redmon Fauset (1882-1961), a METHODS perceptive African American female writer, To analyze the mixed-blood female portrays the hidden desire to be able to character, the frame of analysis used is belong to the white class in her novel en­ feminist literary criticism which analyzes titled Plum Bun (published 1929). She ke­ the works of art from the perspective of enly describes the life of Angela Murray, women (Humm, 1995, p.51). A descriptive the fair-skinned young woman, who de­ and qualitative analysis is applied to ana­ cides to pass up permanently as white and lyze the data from the novel entitled Plum moving to New York leaving her younger Bun by Jessie Redmon Fauset. To get ma­ black-skinned sister in Philadelphia after ximum­ result, a contextual analysis is cho­ the death of their parents. Joining the elite sen (Beard, 2001, p. 6) in which, based on white community in New York, Angela the focus of analysis, the text is situated Murray changes her name into Angéle in its racial context. Data from the novel Mory. She faces a humiliating experience are collected using close reading. The data with her wealthy racist white lover leading collection is based on the criteria of trig­ to her pondering her decision to hide her gers, manifestations, and impacts of pass­ racial heritage and to abandon her black- ing up and later of backing away from skinned sister. Based on this concise story passing up as a white female. Then, each line, it is challenging to analyze the many group of data is analyzed and linked to faceted experiences of Angela Murray be­ the analysis of the other group of data. fore and after she decides to pass up as a Finally the whole analysis is concluded. white and later her final decision to ac­ knowledge­ her racial origin. FINDING AND DISCUSSION The issues of skin color and passing Angela Murray, the female mulatto as white have attracted many experts to protagonist, has three phases in her life in ponder seriously. Brown (1969) blatantly relation to her skin color. At first, she just says that black people live in a racist society passes up temporarily, playing with the that judges people from the color of the privilege given by her light-skinned color, skin (p. 2 in Berzon, 1978, p. 3). Thus, in together with her mulatto mother. The she the dichotomy of black and white iden­ decides to pass up permanently as white, tities, white people automatically gain in­ leaving her dark-skinned sister and her

2 LITERA Volume 17, Nomor 1, Maret 2018 community. After having humiliating re­ people can pass as whites provided they la­tionship with a white racist lover and have certain physical characteristics (p. 6). feeling exiled by the colored people, finally she decides to acknowledge her racial ori­ Angela’s Playing with Her Skin-Color gin at whatever consequences. Since she was young, Angela is diffe­ rent from her younger sister who enjoys A Brief Glance of Angela Murray the domestic work, the warmth of family Angela Murray is the eldest daughter life, the routines of going to church, and of Junius Murray, a black man, and Mattie the religious life. Little Angela learns how Murray, a mulatto. She has light skin like to utilize her light skin inherited from her the mother, but her younger sister, Virginia mulatto mother (Fauset, n.d., p. 14). How­ Murray has dark skin like the father (Fauset, ever, she totally does not understand that n.d., p. 14). Angela is described as follows her mother’s purpose of using her light skin “Angela had received not only her mother’s to temporarily pass as white and enjoy creamy complexion and her soft cloudy, certain privileges not allowed for black is chestnut hair, but she has taken from Junius “due merely to a mischievous deter­mi­na­ the aquiline nose, the gift of some remote tion to flout a silly and unjust law” (Fauset, Indian ancestor which gave to his face and n.d., p.15). Her mulatto mother is not se­ his eldest daughter’s that touch of chiseled rious in her passing as white. She just wants immobility” (Fauset, n.d., p. 14). Angela to ridicule the white rule that segregates Murray is what Kennedy (2001) calls as whites and blacks. In other words, her “white Negro” (p. 1). mother’s action is just for fun “my old They live modestly in a small house in game of play-acting” (Fauset, n.d., p. 19). the suburb of Philadelphia. While Virginia It is just a temporary game of perfor­man­ likes to go “exploring old Philadelphia” ce. In other words, the action of Angela’s (Fauset, n.d., p. 16) with her father, Angela mother agrees with the opinion of Wirth enjoys shopping with her mother and she and Goldhamer (1944) that sometimes craves “to know light, pleasure, gaiety and fair-skinned person may pass as white un­ freedom” (Fauset, n.d., p. 13). Angela has intentionally just for temporary fun (p. 303 a fallacious thought that “First, that the in Sollors, 1997, pp. 250-251). great rewards of life--riches, glamour, plea­ Her father, knowing precisely that it is ­sure,--are for white-skinned people only. just a kind of role play for amusement, has Secondly, that Junius and Virginia were no objection to her mother’s temporary denied these privileges because they were passing as white “where no principle was dark” (Fauset, n.d., p. 17) without realizing involved, your passing means nothing to the core truth “that her father and sister me. It’s just a little joke” (Fauset, n.d., p. did not care for this type of pleasure” 19). As a harmonious couple, the black (Fauset, n.d., pp. 17-18). Angela feels that husband and the mulatto wife not only her light skin is the ticket to gain those understand each other, but also deeply privileges and someday she will make it trust each other. The black husband does happen. Angela’s opinion is in line with not feel dejected or abandoned by her mu­ the opinion of Berzon (1978) that black lat­to wife’s little excursions to the white

Angela Murray’s Experience of Passing Up as White in Jessie Redmon Fauset’s Plum Bun 3 surroundings. He knows precisely that his gives him “a small tip” like what a rich mulatto wife that he has married for years white lady does that makes the door man “had no desire to be one of these [white] so grateful. All of these activities, attitudes, people” (Fauset, n.d., p. 15). As for the and demeanors are deeply memorized by mulatto wife, her husband is her soul mate, Angela who enjoys so much these Saturday the one and only partner for her “her black excursions. husband … she had been glad and proud Angela, however, takes the temporary to marry” (Fauset, n.d., p. 14). They love passing with her mulatto mother seriously. each other so deeply and thoroughly that One event confirms her fallacious thought. for the mulatto wife “I’d give my life for It unexpectedly happens when she and her him” (Fauset, n.d.., p. 56). They are inse­ mulatto mother are passing as white. Sud­ parable, even though their skin color has denly, they are almost face to face with a quite significant difference. father and Virginia. However, father and The mother, accompanied by Angela, Virginia quickly disappear before her mo­ continues her habits to have Saturday ex­ ther greets them. This leads Angela insen­ cur­sions to the places prohibited to the si­tively comment as follows: “It’s a good blacks. They dress elegantly and meticu­ ­ thing Papa didn’t see us, you’d have had lously for the occasion so that they become to speak to him, wouldn’t you” (Fauset, such an enchanting sight for the passers- n.d., p. 18) assuming that the mother is by “A thin stream of people constantly not willing to address her black husband passing threw an occasional glance at the and black daughter. This ingrained falla­ ­ quietly modish pair, the well-dressed, as­ cious thought emerges in Angela’s dream­ sured woman and the refined and no less ing “Angela, dreaming excitedly of Satur­ assured daughter” (Fauset, n.d., p. 18). days spent in turning her small olive face In other words, their appearance has no firmly away from peering black countenan­ trace of their racial heritage at all. They ces” (Fauset, n.d., p. 19). The dream indi­ look like classy white people. cates that Angela, if there is a chance, Besides the appearance, they also without any doubt will shake off any bond self-confidently carry out activities com­ with the black people. monly done by classy white ladies in their leisure time, that is “had browsed among Angela’s Passing as White the contents of the small exclusive shops Angela, who is “lack of openness” in Walnut Street; they had had soda at (Fauset, n.d., p. 34), secretly has an accu­ Adams’ on road Street” (Fauset, n.d., p. mulated desire to pass as white. Several 18). Mother and daughter perfectly imitate personal humiliating moments as black the leisure activities of middle-class white person with a light skin strengthen her ladies. They so often do this temporary desire to completely pass as white in a place passing around that area so that when they where nobody knows her before. are standing elegantly in front of a classy The first humiliating moment is when hotel for a moment before continuing the she was still in high school. Angela’s aloof­ excursion, “the door-man knew them” ness makes her having just a few friends. (Fauset, n.d., p. 18). The mother even often One of them is a new white student, Mary

4 LITERA Volume 17, Nomor 1, Maret 2018 Hasting. Their closeness triggers the jea­ reflects the opinion of Wirth and Gold­ lou­sy of Esther Bayliss, another female hamer (1944) (p. 301 in Sollors, 1997, p. white student who has known Angela for 251) that the mistaken identification by a long time. To shatter their friendship, in others is not directly corrected because the front of other students Esther reveals to person has no chance, because the timing Mary that Angela is not white. Shocked, is not right, or because person is not dis­ Mary, the white student, addresses Angela advantaged. accusingly. The scene always haunts Angela: The third embarrassing situation is “Coloured! Angela, you never told when she goes with Matthew Henson, a me that you were coloured!” coloured young man, to a movie used to And then her own voice in tragic but be free for blacks. The white attendant does proud bewilderment. “Tell you that I not allow Matthew to enter because “the was coloured! Why of course I never management’s changed hands since then, told you that I was coloured. Why and we’re not selling tickets to coloured should I” (Fauset, n.d., p. 38) people” (Fauset, n.d., p. 75). This event makes Angela feel sorry for Mathew and Angela is deeply humiliated by this makes Matthew feel deeply disgraced in event and it makes her start thinking that front of the girl he is infatuated with. it is better that “the fact of your racial Another shameful situation for Angela connections was not made known” (Fauset, is that she cannot accept the white acquain­ ­ n.d., p. 46). tances’ invitation to their house because The second humiliating event happens­ that means she has to invite them back to when she is in the Art Academy. The person her house leading to their knowing that doing the humiliating action is the same, she has black racial heritage (Fauset, n.d., Esther Bayliss, who becomes the model of p. 81). The ignominious events steel Angela’s painting but immediately refused because decision compressed in her emotional she does not want “to lower myself to pose sentence “This is the end” (Fauset, n.d.:, for a coloured girl” (Fauset, n.d., p. 71). p. 76). Angela’s strong decision to leave A similar ignominious moment occurred behind all the degrading reactions from when the white instructor, Mr. Shields the white reflects Stonequist’s statement reacts the same as Mary’s in high school: (1961) that the mixed-race people with He blurted out miserably, “But, Miss light skin color can pass as whites inten­ Murray, you never told me that you tionally with the purpose to escape from were coloured.” the limiting condition of life (p. 194 in She felt as though she were rehears­ Sollors, 1997, pp. 250-251) ing a well-known part in a play. “Co­ Angela decides to pass as white. First loured!­ Of course I never told you that she tells Virginia, her younger black sister, I was coloured. Why should I?” (Fauset, that: “I’m going to leave Philadelphia, give n.d., p. 73). up school teaching, break away from our loving friends and acquaintances” (Fauset, Angela’s almost similar respond on the n.d.: Fauset, n.d., p. 77). At that time only first and second humiliating experiences the two of them live in their parents’ house

Angela Murray’s Experience of Passing Up as White in Jessie Redmon Fauset’s Plum Bun 5 after their parents, who loves each other to marry … a white man” (Fauset, n.d., so dearly, dies sequentially because they p. 88). Her acquaintanceship with Roger cannot be separated from each other. To Fielding, a wealthy young white man the aghast Virginia, Angela pours out the (Fauset, n.d., p. 128), seems to realize her deep dissatisfaction that she has felt so dream to join the white elite society. long: “I’m sick, sick, sick of seeing what Angela’s changing opinion in her aim to I want dangles right before my eyes and improve her life in the white circle is de­ then of having it snatched away from me tec­ted by Stonequist (1961), who states and all of it through no fault of my own” that these mixed-race people with light (Fauset, n.d., p. 77) and her conclusion skin color can pass as whites intentionally that “it isn’t being colored that makes the with the purpose to gain the benefits thro­ difference, it’s letting it be known” (Fauset, ugh marriage (p.194 in Sollors, 1997, pp. n.d., p. 78). Thus, in their parting “An 250-251) indefinable steeliness was creeping upon Nevertheless, her dream is still a long them” (Fauset, n.d., p. 82). Sisters with way from coming true. It is true that Roger different skin colors are cruelly separated who is “so gay, so beautiful, like a blond, by the strong desire of the fair-skinned one glorious god, so overwhelming, so persis­ to totally pass as white. tent” (Fauset, n.d., p. 130) is giving her nice Angela chooses New York “where she gifts and taking her to elite places, even could by no chance be known, and launch offering her to move to a bigger apartment out “into a freer, fuller life”” (Fauset, n.d., with a maid (Fauset, n.d., p. 183). However, p. 80). She gets their parents’ insurance Roger, who has many experiences with money, because she needs cash money, women, never offers a marriage proposal while Virginia gets the house (Fauset, n.d., to her (Fauset, n.d., p. 167). According to p. 81). After being idle and living lavishly her friends who know Roger, he will not for several days in NY, Angela who feels dare to marry someone without his father that “She was young, she was temporarily consent because his father is “crazy about independent, she was intelligent, she was his name ad posterity … insist on blue white” (Fauset, n.d., p. 88) finally pur­ blood and the Mayflower” (Fauset, n.d., suing her goal as a portrait painter by en­ pp. 128-129). Besides, Roger is a true ter­ing an art class. She changed her name sickening­ racist. This can be seen in the into Angéle Mory (Fauset, n.d., p. 94). restaurant’s incident where he arrogantly Angela’s decision to pass totally into white orders the manager to drive away the com­ by disowning her relationship with the ing black customers: blacks implies Williams’ opinion (2004) Roger came back, his face flushed, that the intentional passing can be conduc­ ­ triumphant, “Well I put a spoke in the ted by carefully hiding the racial heritage wheel of those ‘coons’! They forget in order to construct improved existence themselves so quickly, coming in here (p. 167). spoiling white people’s appetites. I told However, her seriousness in studying the manager if they brought one of painting is deflected by her sudden thought their damned suits I’d be responsible” when she arrives in NY “perhaps it’s better (Fauset, n.d., p. 134).

6 LITERA Volume 17, Nomor 1, Maret 2018 Roger’s racist attitude to the black cus­ Left alone on her own, Angela soon tomers in the restaurant clearly indicates feels lonely since she has very limited fri­ “Racial Arrogance” as stated by DiAngelo ends. Her relationship with Roger has hurt (2011, p. 61). However, the obvious racist not only herself but also some people aro­ attitude, words, and thought of Roger do und her which is mostly due to her secrecy not make Angela keep away from him. about her racial heritage. For example, in Instead, she becomes Roger’s lover and NY railway station, Angela deeply hurts soon her life only revolves around Roger her younger black sister. With the purpose “She was not curious about his money nor of picking up Virginia who comes to NY his business but she thirsted to know how to have an examination for her future job, his time away from her was spent, whom Angela is suddenly face to face with the he saw, what other places he frequented” racist Roger. To keep their present blooming (Fauset, n.d., p. 205). Roger is her only relationship runs smoothly, Angela deli­ world. Angela has no life of her own. be­rately ignores her younger black sister Angela’s possessive attitude triggers who is standing in front of them, leaving Roger’s “sullenness, remoteness, wariness” Virginia “after a second’s bewilderment (Fauset, n.d.: 228) because he knows what but incredulous stare was quicker than Angela aims at, that is, “marriage” (Fauset, they. Her slight figure, her head high, pre­ n.d., p. 228) and he does not have any ceded them; vanished into a telephone intention to disobey his father’s rule about bo­oth” (Fauset, n.d., p. 160). Angela’s his future wife. The climax of “the sweeter action of not acknowledging her black for that secrecy” (Fauset, n.d., p. 191) rela­ sister in front of the white racist Roger tionship is that Roger humiliatingly aban­ agrees with Sollors’ statement (1997) that dons Angela after he conspicuously flirts the action of passing can be done in total with a white girl of a rich family in front secrecy or partial one by imploring others of Angela. To Angela’s words demanding to help covering the secret (p. 251). explanation, Roger condescendingly says: When Angela visits Virginia in her bo­ “No women with an ounce of pride would ard­ing house to atone her absolutely im­ have stood for what you’ve been standing proper attitude, Virginia “had neither kissed lately … You know perfectly well what you nor offered to shake hands with her sister, were letting yourself in for. Any woman yet her manner was friendly enough, even would know it” (Fauset, n.d., pp. 232- cordial” (Fauset, n.d., p. 165). Her attitude 233). Although Angela does not love Roger, hides her deeply hurt feeling indicated by since her willingness to be sexually involved her harsh words “you cut your own sister” with Roger is based on an illusion to have (Fauset, n.d., p. 166) in commenting a perfect life with a rich white man, she is Angela’s action to keep her lover. The disgraced by Roger’s words and her pride relationship between the sisters who has is shattered. Angela is in the situation as rifted when Angela decides to separate stated by Berzon (1978) that mixed-race her­self from her black sister is now com­ people faces particular benefits and detri­ pletely broken. Now they live in the same ments in the relationship whether within city, but they are drifted far apart, Angela the black or white society (p. 8). lives in the white community while Virginia

Angela Murray’s Experience of Passing Up as White in Jessie Redmon Fauset’s Plum Bun 7 enjoys the Harlem. The cold relationship for Anthony for the easy life offered by between siblings reflects the damaging Roger. effects of hiding the racial heritage to the Another impact of her relationship black relatives and friends in doing secret with Roger is that she loses her interest in passing as stated by Fauset (1969, pp. 224- studying how to paint seriously. After being 225 in Sollors, 1997, p. 253). abandoned by Roger, Angela does her Angela also humiliates Miss Powell, pa­inting seriously but she has to face the the black participant in the art class, who reality that she needs a job to support her­ wants to talk to Angela while she is waiting self in NY because her money is running for Roger: “She laid her hand on Angela’s out. The sensitive instructor in the art class arm but the latter shook her off. Roger offers a job with a relatively good pay must not see her on familiar terms like this (Fauset, n.d., p. 237). For the time being, with a coloured girl” (Fauset, n.d., p. 149). Angela is saved from the financial problem Angela lightly thinks that she can ask Miss but still she is lonely because all of the few Powell’s forgiveness tomorrow without people that she knows in NY are busy with fully realizing that she has hurt Miss Po­ their own life. well’s feeling and pride. Angela refuses Anthony Cross’ deep Angela’s Confession of her Racial Origin love for her. Anthony is one of the par­ti­ After her relationship with Roger ends cipants in the art class. Compared to Roger, humiliatingly, Angela focuses on her pa­ Anthony is the opposite “a very serious, inting­ lesson and she progresses amazingly. almost sad young man” (Fauset, n.d., p. She begins to make new friendship and 99). He is very romantic and true to his tries to sympathize with their problems. feeling “I’m so content to be with you, However, she still feels alone and lonely. Angel. I may call you Angel, mayn’t I? She compares her life now and her black You are to me, you know. Oh if you only sister’s: “Jinny had changed her life and knew how happy it makes me to be content, been successful. Angela had changed hers to be satisfied like this” (Fauset, n.d., p. and had found pain and unhappiness. 141). However, he cannot offer a life in Where did the fault lie? Not, certainly, in luxury for Angela “Could you for the sake her determination to pass from one race of love, for the sake of being loyal to the to another” (Fauset, n.d., p. 245). Angela purposes and vows of someone you loved, also remember her mulatto mother’s wise bring yourself to endure privation and words: “Life is more important than co­ hard­ship and misunderstanding” (Fauset, lour” (Fauset, n.d., p. 268). Angela begins n.d., p. 142). Angela, who “go out to seek to realize how selfish she is all this time life and happiness” (Fauset, n.d., p. 143) “she had been too intent always on hap­ in NY, cannot take a life in poverty and piness for herself. Her father, her mother sacrifice as offered by Anthony although and Jinny had always given and she had deep down in her heart she likes him very always taken” (Fauset, n.d., p. 277). Angela much and she feels that “A woman could also remembers about Rachel Salting, her be her true self with him” (Fauset, n.d., apartment mate, who is willing to sacrifice p. 147). Thus Angela puts aside her feeling for her love to the man she intends to marry

8 LITERA Volume 17, Nomor 1, Maret 2018 (Fauset, n.d., p. 249). In her loneliness, black sister. They meet when Virginia feels Angela starts to contemplate her messy devastated after being abandoned by Ange­ life. Angela’s messy life as the result of la in NY railway station (Fauset, n.d., p. her selfish decision corresponds to Hudson’s 304). These two suffering people find solace opinion (2008) that the passers will face to each other. To Virginia, Anthony is “I’m difficulties to belong to the white or black God to her” (Fauset, n.d., p. 303), and to communities due to their previous egoistic Anthony, Angela is “You are God to me” choice. (Fauset, n.d., p. 303). In this ironical situ­ The contemplation results in Angela’s ation,­ Angela “tore herself from him. “No, decision to amend for her big mistake to I took her sister away from her; I won’t Virginia, Anthony Cross, and Miss Powell. take her lover. Kiss me good-bye, Antho­ The first action done by Angela to realize ny”” (Fauset, n.d., p. 307). Angela does her intention to atone for her guilt is to not want to hurt her younger sister any­ see Anthony Cross. Angela begins to rea­ more. lize that she loves Anthony “for himself, Feeling that she has lost Anthony for­ for his sincerety, for his fierce pride, for ever, Angela does not want to lose her sis­ his poverty, for his honest, frantic love” ter too. Her relationship with Virginia is (Fauset, n.d., p. 266). Angela decides that getting better although it is not as close as she is willing “to be poor with Anthony; previously when they were still in Phila­ ­ to struggle with him” (Fauset, n.d., p. 274). delphia: “They would always view each However, her plan to win back Anthony’s other from the two sides of an abyss, nar­ love does not run smoothly. First, Anthony row but deep, deep” (Fauset, n.d., p. 317). doubts her intention: “I’ve been away from However, it turns out that actually Virgi­ you so long I had forgotten … Forgotten nia, who is engaged to Anthony, has her how dangerous you are. Forgotten how a own secret “I’ll make him happy too, but, woman like you plays with poor fool like oh, Angela, Angela, I always wanted to me” (Fauset, n.d., p. 281) although he is marry Matthew” (Fauset, n.d., p. 318). still deeply in love with her “Angel, Angel, Matthew Henson is a guy from the old days I shall love you always. Life cannot rob in Philadelphia whom Virginia secretly me of that. Good-bye, my sweetest” (Fauset, lo­ves but who is crazily in love with Angela. n.d., p. 284). Then Anthony misinterprets To help Virginia meet her true love, Angela Angela’s reaction when he confesses that visits Matthew in Philadelphia and sur­ actually he is coloured, not white: ““Because pri­singly Matthew confesses that he secretly I’m coloured.” In her bewildered relief she loves Virginia “I fell in love with Jinny” fell away from him” (Fauset, n.d., p. 287). (Fauset, n.d., p. 370) but he cannot ex­ Anthony thinks that Angela despises press his love to Virginia because he thinks him. When Angela gets a chance to tell she regards him as a big brother only “she him that she is coloured too (Fauset, n.d., made it so plain all the time that she look­ p. 299), there is another problem because ed on me as her sister’s beau and therefore Anthony says unexpectedly “But I’m eng­ a kind of dependable brother” (Fauset, n.d., a­g­ed” (Fauset, n.d., p. 301) and the irony p. 370). Virginia gives a hint to Matthew is that he is engaged to Virginia, Angela’s that the fact is different “I know she likes

Angela Murray’s Experience of Passing Up as White in Jessie Redmon Fauset’s Plum Bun 9 you very, very much. And I don’t think she ­ly welcomes Angela: regards you as a brother” (Fauset, n.d., p. “It’s because you are a fool that I am 371) and urges Matthew to visit Virginia crying,” said Jinny sobbing and sniffing, in NY. her fingers in her eyes. “You’re a fool Angela’s another effort to make amends and the darlingest girl that ever lived, to her mistake is to help Miss Powell who and my own precious, lovely, wonderful gets unfair treatment. Both Angela and sister back again. Oh, Angela, I’m so Miss Powell win the Art Competition and happy” (Fauset, n.d., p. 352). get the awards to study in France, however the award for Miss Powell is cancelled due Virginia is so happy because Angela’s to her being coloured (Fauset, n.d., p. 337). daring confession shows that she acknow­ When Angela visits Miss Powell’s house ledges her black racial heritage which me­ to show her sympathy, she sees that Miss ans that she is the same as Virginia. Angela’s Powell is being cornered by four racist public confession reunites her with her journalists (Fauset, n.d., p. 343). Unable yo­unger sister. to keep her temper for the humiliation, Virginia urges Angela to keep going to Angela bravely says that she refuses the France as planned because that is Angela’s award “for the same reason” (Fauset, n.d., dream as a painter (Fauset, n.d., p. 352) p. 348) because “I mean that if Miss Powell and she will provide financial support isn’t wanted’ I’m not wanted either. You whenever­ Angela needs it (Fauset, n.d., imply that she’s not wanted because she’s p. 361). At last, Virginia, who always cares coloured. Well, I’m coloured too” (Fauset, and loves her sister, also sends Anthony n.d., p. 349). Angela publicly in front of to Paris to meet Angela on Christmas as the racist journalists says loudly that she a surprise love gift: is coloured not white. Anthony sitting on the tremendous­ Angela’s confession brings two opposite ly disproportionate tan and maroon impacts. The negative impact is that she sofa rose to meet her. is directly fired from her job (Fauset, n.d., His eyes on her astonished counte­ p. 354). This negative impact is in accor­ nance, he began searching about in his dance with Khanna’s research (2001) about pockets, slapping his vest, pulling out the consequence that the passing person keys and handkerchiefs. “There ought must endure if the secret is discovered; that to be a tag on me somewhere,” he re­ is, a ruthless turning point without any marked apologetically, “but anyhow chan­ce to return to the white community Virginia and Matthew sent me with (p. 55). Khanna’s opinion is also in line the­ir love” (Fauset, n.d., p. 382). with Hobbs (2014) who states that the per­ ­son passing as white must leave the white Virginia has been united with her true society where he/she belongs before after love, Mathew Henson, and she wants Angela being discovered (p.11). However, there to have a happy life with Anthony Cross, are also positive impacts. Virginia, deeply Angela’s true love, so that the four of them moves by Angela’s public confession fol­ can taste happiness after years of hurts and low­ed by its inevitable consequences, warm­ sufferings.

10 LITERA Volume 17, Nomor 1, Maret 2018 CONCLUSIONS skin colour is, give more comfort than In a still racist society of the 1930s living in deceit by denying the true skin America, skin colour has an important colour. Life in its fullest sense can be en­ role. Being white means having a lot of joy­ed by anyone regardless of their skin chances and privileges while being blacks colour. A happy life can be constructed means limited chances and privileges. For by anybody whatever his/her skin colour. those black descendants who have light skin they have a chance to pass as whites BIBLIOGRAPHY and enjoy a life with wider opportunities. Beard, Adrian. (2001). Texts and Contexts: However, not all light-skinned people can introducing literature and language study. have an easy life after successfully passing New York: Routledge. as whites whether temporarily or perma­ Berzon, Judith R. (1978). Neither White Nor nently. Black. The Mulatto Character in American Jessie Redmon Fauset in her novel en­ Fiction. New York: New York University. titled Plum Bun portrays the life of a light- Brown, H. Rap. (1969). Die, Nigger, Die!. skinned female protagonist called Angela New York: Dial Press. p. 2. Murray who changes her name into Angéle DiAngelo, Robin. “White Fragility”. In Mory when she passes permanently as International Journal of Critical Pedagogy, white. In order to realize her dream of Vol 3 (3) (2011) pp 54-70 having a more fulfilling life in a white Fauset, Jessie Redmon. ( n.d.). Pum Bun. society with a white partner, she hurts New York: Frederick A. Stokes Company. many people including her own younger (https://ia802708.us.archive. sister who is black, another black female org/12/items/plumbunnovel participant in the art school, and the poor with00fausrich/plumbunnovelwith man she actually loves. Unable to find true 00fausrich.pdf accessed May 16, 2015). happiness, being humiliatingly abandon­ Fauset. Jessie Redmon. (1933 rpt 1969). ed by the white lover, realizing that she Comedy: American Style. College Park, cannot become herself in the white society, M.D.: Mc Grath Publishing. p. 224-225. and deciding to atone for her past mistakes, Hobbs, Allyson. (2014). A Chosen Exile A Angela makes a public confession about History of Racial Passing in American her true racial heritage. Her daring action Life. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard results in happiness in the form of a sister, University Press. (http://bookzz.org/ friends, and a true lover. book/2458037/61aab4 accessed June Through her novel, Fauset wants to 14, 2015). convey the message that “Life is more Hudson, Elisabeth. “The Relationship important than colour” (Fauset, n.d., p. Between Colour and Identity in the 268), which are the wise words uttered by Literature of Nella Larsen and Richard Angela’s and Virginia’s mulatto mother Wright”. In Lethbridge Undergraduate who has a lot of experience of life. Hap­ Research Journal. Volume 3 Number piness and comfort are not determined by 2. 2008. skin colour. Being true to one own self and Humm, Maggie. (1995). The Dictionary of always appreciating others, whatever their Feminist Theory. Second edition. Co­

Angela Murray’s Experience of Passing Up as White in Jessie Redmon Fauset’s Plum Bun 11 lum­bus: Ohio State University Press. London: Duke University Press. (http:// Kennedy, Randall. “Racial Passing”. In bookzz.org/book/812331/6af1af Ohio State Law Journal [Vol. 62: 1145 accessed June 14, 2015). (2001)] Williams, Teresa Kay. (2004). “Race-ing Khanna, Nikki. (2011). Biracial in America. and being Raced: The Critical Inter­ Forming and Performing Racial Identity. rogation of ‘Passing’” in Mixed Race Lanham, Maryland: Lexington Books Studies: A Reader. Ed. Jayne O. Ifek­ (http://gen.lib.rus.ec/book/index.php? wunigwe. London: Routledge. pp. 1-29. md5=389B3F1D2AC48250B995D1 (http://gen.lib.rus.ec/book/index. E677665F84 accessed May 21, 2015). php?md5=15A7F97AC8788ADDE Sollors, Werner. (1997). Neither Black Nor 95A1500F507AB08 accessed 27 Mei White Yet Both. Thematic Explorations 2015). of Interracial Literature. Oxford: OUP Wirth, Louis, and Goldhamer, Herbert. Stonequist, Everett V. (1937 rpt 1961). (1944). “The Hybrid and the Problems The Marginal Man: A Study in Per­so­ of Miscegenation” and “Legal Res­ nality and Culture Conflict. New York: trictions on Negro-White Inter­mar­ Russell & Russell, Inc. p. 221. riage” in Characteristics of the American Wald, Gayle. (2000). Crossing the Line Negro, ed. Otto Klineberg. New York: Racial Passing in Twentieth-Century U.S. Harper and Row. Literature and Culture. Durham and

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