There seems to be one main reason for 'passing' in this society and that would be for survival. Survival in most southern towns and some northern areas to escape the lynchings which seemed to be an excellent pass time for whites in those areas. It was a way to survive in a society that was very hostile to those considered outsiders, inferiors: though these people/inferiors were living in the same towns having the same …showed first 75 words of 353 total…

…showed last 75 words of 353 total…in the family that warranted her going into the white community. It was not a matter of (needed) survival for her. Irene may have even used it to look down on others in her community even her husband who could not pass. Because of his mood swings she again may have used this 'opportunity' to get away from him for a day. 'Passing' was and still is, some say, a survival mechanism for most people.