Passing
An Alternative History of Identity
Format:Hardback
Publisher:C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd
Published:21st Jan '21
Should be back in stock very soon
In Passing, Lipika Pelham examines the fluidity of identity through historical and contemporary stories, highlighting the complexities and societal challenges faced by individuals across time.
In Passing, the author explores the complex nature of identity through a series of poignant narratives spanning different time periods and cultures. The book begins with a powerful account of a slave woman in 1840s America who disguises herself as a white, disabled man to escape to freedom. This story sets the stage for a broader examination of how individuals have navigated societal boundaries and expectations throughout history. The author juxtaposes this historical narrative with contemporary issues, such as a twenty-first-century black rights activist facing backlash for denying her whiteness, highlighting the ongoing struggles related to identity and acceptance.
The exploration continues with the tale of a Victorian explorer who disguises himself as a Muslim in Arabia's forbidden holy city, showcasing the lengths individuals will go to in order to fit into or escape societal norms. The book also delves into the tragic story of a trans man in 1993 who is exposed and murdered by bigots, underscoring the dangers faced by those who challenge traditional identity labels. Additionally, it touches on the experiences of Japanese untouchables who leave their homes to forge new identities, emphasizing the fluidity of self-perception and societal recognition.
Through these narratives, Passing invites readers to reflect on the evolving meanings of identity and our intrinsic need for labels, despite their limitations. Lipika Pelham weaves her own experiences into the discussion, drawing connections between historical and contemporary stories of transformation and fluidity. This timely exploration serves as a reminder of the ongoing dialogue surrounding identity, belonging, and the human experience.
'Pelham, a writer with a flair for capturing complex sensitivities, has produced a provocative, engaging history that doesn't balk at considering the fierce contemporary debate surrounding gender identity, or what happens when passing becomes trespassing, AKA cultural appropriation.' -- The Observer
'A fascinating and engrossing exploration of racial passing and fluid racial identity from an award-winning documentary filmmaker and journalist.' -- Cosmopolitan UK
‘[Offers] long histories, with much to say about the present.’
'This remarkable book merges perceptive understanding of sociopolitical identity problems facing many who are disempowered and marginalised owing to skin-colour, sexuality, gender, caste, class or religion.' -- Morning Star
'Expertly navigating themes of identity, boundaries and belonging, Pelham combines moving storytelling with patient writing to create a truly transformative experience.' -- David Lammy MP, author of 'Tribes: How Our Need to Belong Can Make or Break Society'
'Thoroughly elevates the complex reality of day-to-day identity dynamics, tracing their rich historical origins and posing pertinent questions for the future.' -- Koa Beck, author of 'White Feminism'
'A profound and heartfelt meditation on the cost of self-effacement and the need to forge a new sense of self from the debris of our atavisms.' -- Aatish Taseer, author of 'The Twice-Born', 'The Temple-Goers' and 'Stranger to History'
'A gripping account of how a person can be liberated by taking on another identity, or indeed how their own existence exposes the artificial boundaries of otherness. With compassion, honesty, and a storyteller's eye for beauty in meaning, Pelham destigmatises and viscerally recreates these crossings to another shore.' -- Medina Tenour Whiteman, author of 'The Invisible Muslim'
ISBN: 9781787383814
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
416 pages