There are many causes that may have led the central character to “pass”; one example reflects on his upbringing. His mother tells him, "The best blood of the South is in you," (p.784) when the narrator asks whom his father is. Clearly, his mother was proud of (and perhaps still in love with) this genteel white man

who gave her a son. His pretty and intelligent mother, his sole parent, made her way in the world by connecting her destiny to that of a white man's. From this, the central character saw the love his mother had for a white man. So the central characters audacious decisions make much sense in light of his past. He was told of his father’s proud standing and scholarly accomplishments. This influenced the idea onto the character, that in order to be successful and content you must be white.

Another large reason was for money. The central character didn’t want the average salary of a black man, he wanted what he deserved and so he based that on his major life altering decision. He wanted to be well recognized musically, and get paid properly for it. The narrator knew if he were to go and live in the black community he would have difficulty amounting to anything of importance. This illustrates one of the ex-colored mans decisions to forsake his race in order to adopt the race that hated him.

The central character dreams of, "bringing glory and honor to the Negro race." (p.788) But in reality, he surrenders to the more self-serving choice of “passing” and neglects his black half. His millionaire friend, who exerts one of the greatest influences of all on him, makes the choices quite clear. "My boy, you are by blood, by appearance, by edu

Some topics in this essay:
American Literature, Weldon Johnson, central character, ex colored, causes lead, passing white, white central, black race, choice “passing”, live black,