Jazz The Emergence Of Jazz - 1301 Words

Jazz: the Emergence Jazz is a form of music that originated in the United States during the early 1900s. It was a form of music that influenced generations, started the music careers of many great musicians, and its ties are in the melting pot of New Orleans. Jazz has a variety of styles to listen to and also has many diverse musicians to experience these diverse sounds from. Jazz is a great form of music. Its different styles and musicians give it diversity, while strengthening ties to the African American community. It grew out several different forms of music in the melting pot of the United States known as New Orleans, in the 1800s, where African American, European, Americans, French, Spanish, English and Native Americans mingled and mixed (American Jazz). The culture of the city absorbed elements from each of these groups, and is immediately obvious is music. The musicians of the city shared their musical styles and played together (Matthews, Andrew). The music styles they share d formed one of the earliest styles of jazz. The roots of it are in the cities where Jazz was a big influence on the cities: New Orleans, Chicago, New York, Kansas City, Los Angeles, and Detroit. At various times in history they have been incubators for jazz. Jazz was not created overnight (Jazz Makers pg. 9). The elements that grew together to form the new style of music were present in more than one region of the United States for several years before they coalesced into a recognizable newShow MoreRelatedThe Ragtime And The Blues1184 Words   |  5 Pagesthe blues were essential and influential in their contributions to the development of jazz. Together, they served as the primary predecessors to the later, more complicated genre. Key elements from each brand are incorporated and mixed to create jazz. Without the creative geniuses of ragtime such as Scott Jopin and James Reese Europe and Blues propagators W.C. Hady and Robert Johnson, the distinctive genre of jazz would not have emerged. Ragtime and blues are both unique in their respective stylesRead MoreMusic, Blues And Ragtime1337 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Jazz is the first true art form to come from the soil of America†, Winton Marsalis made this claim in the film Jazz by Ken Burns. Jazz would be born here in America after the fall of slavery. The interactions between previously enslaved peoples and the rest of society gave the breeding ground for a mixture of cultures and music styles. The city which was most clearly known for the mixing of cultures after the Civil war was New Orleans. In New Orleans the primary cultures and ethnicities seen included:Read MoreRagtime And Blues : The History And Their Influence On Jazz1581 Words   |  7 PagesRagtime and Blues: The History and Their Influence on Jazz In the city of New Orleans, from parades to clubs and from weddings to funerals, one element usually remained constant throughout all these events: the music that permeated the air. At most of these occasions, a band often performed as entertainment, providing many opportunities for musicians in the area to work. By the early 20th century, due to various factors such as mix of ethnicities and cultures with syncopated musical styles influencedRead MoreAspects Of Langston Hughes And The Harlem Renaissance755 Words   |  4 PagesAlthough it was a time of great discrimination, the Harlem Renaissance was a time of emergence for African Americans artists. Several writers such as Langston Hughes emerged during this period. African American writers who emerged during the Harlem Renaissance were heroes to lower-class blacks living in Harlem. Langston Hughes was a household name amongst the lower-class during the Harlem Renaissance. Hughes’s poetry was strongly influenced by the Harl em Renaissance because of his love for the blackRead MoreIn The Middle Of The 19Th Century, Congo Square Became1369 Words   |  6 Pageson the bottom of a society full of slavery and segregation, the origin of jazz was less a singular event than an evolving movement. None of those pioneers, however, could have anticipated the future of their developing art form. None could have foreseen that their informal rhythmic gatherings would eventually lead to nationally recognized big bands with more than 20 musicians and celebrity band leaders. The trajectory of jazz history is complex and rich, flowing from style to style and from regionRead MoreThe Beginning of Jazz and the Effects Early Jazz Had in the 1920s860 Words   |  4 PagesJazz could be what describes America to a â€Å"T† in the 1920s. It was very popular throughout the entire decade of the 1920s. This era was called â€Å"The Jazz Age†, which was a term coined by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Campbell 52). It not only affected music, but it also contributed to an entire cultural renaissance in Harlem, brought other cultural groups together in a time of segregation, and the lifestyle of many Americans throughout the 1920s. Jazz would be the mold for everything American in the 1920sRead More Ragtime Essay examples850 Words   |  4 Pages Ragtime was a very influential part of the development of jazz. Ragtime became very popular in the late 1800’s. Ragtime’s distinct style set it apart from the other genres. Syncopation is what defines this art form. This is when the loud accents fall in between the beats. Anything that is syncopated is basically ragtime. One of the most important ragtime composers was Scott Joplin. Like all great artists, Joplin did not restrict himself to this favored art form. Both before the advent of ragtimeRead MoreThe Spread of Jazz and the Effects on Society1288 Words   |  6 Pagesovert racism dominated the minstrel show even as it provided employment oppo rtunities for black performers; revisionist histories abound, especially in the development of jazz music, as the invaluable contributions of the black artists preceding the jazz movement often had their story rewritten to assert the development of jazz music by white artists instead. Despite these challenges, the growth and spread of music in this era was ultimately a positive influence on black culture. In addition toRead MoreAnalysis Of The Song Crazy Blues 1172 Words   |  5 Pagesversion was hardly successful, Mamie Smith’s version was paramount in exposing the recording industry to African Americans and their various types of music.4 â€Å"Crazy Blues† sparked the creation of a business centered on African American culture allowing jazz, blues and black pop music to flourish. As the very first blues record ever issued, this song has been recognized as a landmark and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1994.3 Both Noble Sissle and Mamie Smith had incredible impacts on theRead MoreLangston Hughes : Jazz Poetry And Harlem Renaissance1212 Words   |  5 PagesLangston Hughes Jazz Poetry and Harlem Renaissance Langston Hughes was an African American poet who was born on 01 February 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. His parents separated and later divorced during his childhood. Subsequently he was raised predominantly by his maternal grandmother. His grandparents were politically active and supporters of the abolition of slavery. They were activists in the movement for voting rights for African Americans. Through their active involvement in his upbringing

Walking and Word Swag Free Essays

Got Swag? 1. What is â€Å"swag†? Being a commonly used word in the 21st century, â€Å"swag† has arisen from song lyrics and populated through postages on popular online websites such as â€Å"Facebook†, â€Å"Twitter†, and â€Å"Tumblr†. It has stemmed from the word â€Å"swagger†, which is a noun that means a very confident and typically arrogant or aggressive manner. We will write a custom essay sample on Walking and Word Swag or any similar topic only for you Order Now This manifestation of the word â€Å"swag† has caused most teenagers to use this term to define themselves. Swag is utilized as a noun to describe a person’s mannerisms as â€Å"cool† when compared to the ordinary layperson. In the contemporary society, a key judgment of one’s character is whether their actions contain swag or not. Swag can be defined either negatively or positively through judgment of everyday actions such as walking, talking, and self-appearance. 2. As aforementioned, the way a person walks or talks may show whether they have swag or not. Someone who would be considered to have swag would walk in a confident and self-assured manner. Key characteristics of such a person’s walking habits are having a straight posture, meticulous foot placing, and a subtle arm sway. In addition to walking habits, smooth-talking teenagers are believed to show swag by the way they speak. For example, a guy can smooth-talk and flirt with a girl to persuade her on a date with him. On the other hand, a girl can talk with swag by conveying a more confident tone. She can assertively talk about her unique qualities (e. g. her curvy body) as a sign of swag. Aside from being able to â€Å"walk the walk† and â€Å"talk the talk†, having a unique fashion sense also differentiates the layperson from one who has swag. 3. The appearance, grooming, and outfits of people may or may not indicate that they have swag. Regarding clothes, swag is gauged by one’s sense of style. The median used for this gauge is the dressing habits of many celebrities in the music industry. For instance, outfits like adjustable snapback hats, Jordan sneakers, varsity leather jackets, or sweatshirts by the label Obey are types of swag clothing. Celebrities such as rappers, Soulja Boy, Tyga, and as well as singer, Justin Bieber, wear swag type of clothing. The iconic status of celebrities influences people to dress like them. Conversely, there are many people who see the style swag in a negative manner. People such as myself do not like to dress that certain style and would rather dress in a more formal style. For example, my style of clothes would be considered GQ or Gentlemen Quality-like, which comes from a fashion magazine style regarding formal clothes. My GQ style is different from the swag style because it consists of classy clothes such as polo shirts, button downs, ties, and suits. The style dichotomy between GQ and swag shows how different types of people can have opposing opinions on the use of the word swag. 4. My opinion of the word is in a negative connotation but others use the word as a compliment. Teenagers use swag in their everyday lives to describe their activities. For examples some teenagers consider swag as sexual activity, buying the newest swag style clothes or doing what they believe is â€Å"cool†. Everyone has different opinions of what action is considered â€Å"cool† or not. As a result, many people have the opinion that swag is an unprofessional word with unnecessary and meaningless content. The different views of the word show two different opinions. 5. A personal story involving the word swag involved one of my achievements on the dance floor of a party. My friend George and I were always partying on the weekends and were invited to a private high school party. On the night of the party, I got the chance to dance with one of the best looking girls there. As I was dancing, I saw George point at me and heard him say, â€Å"Now that is swag† to another girl standing next to him. George was indicating that I had swag because I was dancing with a beautiful girl. After my dance, I told him to not label anything I do as swag. The reason why I said this stems from my non-conforming personality. I told him that I view swag has a negative description and would prefer not to change my opinions about it. . The slang word swag is common in this new generation. Therefore, the use of the word is more popular among teenagers. Having swag or what is considered to be swag is simply a word for people to describe what they believe to be as â€Å"cool†. As portrayed in the narrative, telling a person they have swag may even be taken offensi vely; especially if that individual does not believe in the society – defined definition of the word. Conclusively, the different aspects of walking, talking, and style can be gauged as a negative or positive outlook on swag based on one’s personal opinions. How to cite Walking and Word Swag, Essay examples

Intergration of Traditional and Digital Marketing free essay sample

Introduction Integrated Marketing is where all forms of marketing channels and communications are carefully linked together to reinforce a single coherent message. Integrated marketing programs incorporate an appropriate and customised combination of on-line and traditional marketing elements that can include: †¢Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) The use of keywords that increases ranking in the google listings according to relevance of the words used in the search engine. †¢Search Engine Marketing (SEM) The maximizing of exposure through Pay Per Click impressions. Social Media Marketing The use of social network platforms †¢Email Marketing Campaigns Mainly used to inform existing customers of new products and services. †¢Radio Advertising Used in the traditional marketing strategies however a medium that can be a very powerful tool of integrating the two marketing traditions †¢Television Advertising Placing commercials during specific times of the day or durin g programs views aimed at a specific target audience can be very effective means of lead generation †¢Bill Board Advertising A effective medium for supplementing a well established online marketing program †¢Newspaper Advertising Effective medium for attracting a wide audience as Television . We will write a custom essay sample on Intergration of Traditional and Digital Marketing or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Traditional and digital methods are never as effective separately as they are when fully integrated with one and other. However developing sustainable integrated solutions and successfully executing them ar part of a comprehensive strategy requires foresight and planning. An example of traditional and online marketing strategies powerful interaction was from the Educational Building Society, (EBS) , campaigne â€Å"Mortgage Information Evening†. EBSâ€Å"Mortagage Information Evening† Traditional and Digital Integration. EBS developed a marketing strategy informing potential home owners of an open evening for mortgage advice. The major concept to this strategy is the use of an open evening giving expert advice in order to capture a existing customer base of those interested in buying their own home. The traditional strategies used to inform customers of this open evening were: newspaper, local radio and bill boards and the digital marketing strategies were SEO,Quick Response code, scan, (QR), Blogs, and Cookies. The apparent goal of this marketing strategy was to direct their audience from the traditional arena to the digital market and this was done through the process of the potential customer having to registering in order to attend the information evening. Looking at each medium used individually this can be clearly illustrated: Newspaper Media A newspaper advertisement is an extremely effective means of reaching and attracting a wide audience. The main drawback to this type of medium is competition of the news, other advertisements and location of the advert in the paper. To overcome this obstacle a newspaper advertisement should contain a high visual and headline with a call to action. The EBS advertisement was structured accordingly where they had four full page insertions at the front of the Metro Herald. The front page had a large visual and head line with sub head lines on the other three pages. The integration from traditional to digital took place at the call to action where the customer was directed to their web site via e-mail, or by scanning a Quick Response code, (QR), with a mobile phone which again, brought the viewer to the EBS web site. Local Radio The key aspect of radio media is that it is reliant on only one of the senses and that is hearing. It is on this basis radio has been classified as the â€Å"theatre of the mind† as it generates the imaginaton of the listener. EBS generated a raidio advertisment with a male voice over in a conversation with a female voice over about getting a mortagage. It gave the impression that the listener was listening in on the conversation. The intergration from traditional to digital occured through a third male voice over calling to action by giving the EBS website to attendi the open information evening. Bill Board Bill Boards can be an effective method of highlighting a companys visibility and Brand awarness. It is most effective to sustain a established online marketing program as in the case of the EBS. The intergration occured where the call to action was to direct the audience to the website. Information Evening. The information evening was it self a traditional strategy where EBS inviting those interested in taking out a mortgage to attend for expert advice. This was not only to capture a existing customer base but as the potential customer had to register on line, the intergration from traditional to digital took place as they had to give their Email address and asked if this could be used for further promotions. Thus it allowed EBS to update or create a data base for those promotions. It has been clearly illustrated how EBS used the traditional marketing programs to direct their audience online. However in order to expand their audience further EBS also used a number of digital strategies which were: Search Engine Optimisation. Although EBS used traditional marketing strategies to send their audience directly on to their web page, when â€Å"mortgage information evening† is placed in a search engine, EBS was ranked second as they use keywords that were highly relevant to that search. Use of Blogs on Social Media Platforms and Third Party Sites A Blog short for â€Å"Web Log† refers to a list of journal entrires posted on a web page. The main advantage of hosting these web logs are their interactive feature where a web visitor gets the chance of two way communication. In the EBS campaign, the interactive features not only illustrated feedback on the â€Å"Information Evening† its self, but it also gave details on the consumers attitudes and behaviours towards Mortgage products in areas such â€Å"property tax† and â€Å"negative equity†. The blog also gave feedback concerning the venue and location was taking place. The fact that the EBS hosted these blogs on third party sites such as myhome. ie and 4. pm. ie makes it possible for the hosted websites to improve ther page ranking that leads to maxium online exposure. Quick Response Code (QR Code) QR codes are similar to the standard bar codes that currently appear on all types of cunsumer products. QR codes contain much more informaton than traditional barcodes. A QR code works by scanning the code with a mobile device that is equipped with a camera and a QR reader application. Once the QR code is scanned, it is translated into actionable information which directs the users to a text message. EBS placed the QR code in a newspapers advertisement, once scanned it directed the user to the registration page of the information evening, where they filled in the registration form to attend. This intergation between print and web via QR Codes adds a new dimension of communication to an marketing strategy. Digital Signatures/Cookies. A cookie is a piece of information in the form of small text that is placed on an internets users hard drive. Cookies can have different functions; a) They make interaction between user and website faster and easier. b) Without cookies it would be difficult for a website to allow a vistor to fill up a shopping cart or remember the users registration details. In the context of using cookies for online marketing they have the ability to collect demographic information. They also enable websites to monitor their users web activities and profile them for marketing purposes (for example, to find out which products or services they are interested in and send them targetted advertisment). EBS does have a pop up menu for cookie compliance which asks ther vistor to accept their cookie. However, the purpose may be for online marketing strategies but the website does not inform the user the purpose of the cookie. Conclusion. What the EBS mortgage information evening campaign shows is that traditional marketing is more of an extension of online marketing strategies, rather than a strategy in itself. The goal of traditional marketing now is to engage the consumer offline and then connect and convert them online. However, what the EBS marketing strategy does demonstrate is that in order that traditional to be effective with online marketing it is necessary that a) a meaningful marketing message should be the first step in any campaign. This message should contain the purpose of the marketing strategy. How will it benefit the reader? What action do you want the reader to take? b) Who is the audience? Once you have determined what you are saying it is now necessary to know who you are speaking to. It is beneficial to be specific and being focused on those people who will get the most benefit from what you are offering. c) Where is your audience? Once you know who your audience is you need to determine the best way to get your message to them. Are they using Google search, are they reading newspapers online or off, Do they read newspapers or blogs. Do they listen to radio or iPods. Do they gossip with friends at the pub or on Facebook. The EBS campaign has shown that once the marketing message has a clear purpose the audience required can be reached with a good integration of traditional and online methods.

The Anatomy Of Corn

The Anatomy Of Corn If you are reading this, corn has touched your life in some way. We eat corn, animals eat corn, cars eat corn (well, it can be used as a biofuel), and we even can eat corn out of a container made from corn (think: bioplastics). It is projected that the U.S. corn yield will reach over 14 billion bushels. However, what do you know about the corn plant itself? Did you, for example, know that corn is a grass and not a vegetable? The Seed: The Beginnings Of The Corn Plant Look at a corn cob - you will see the seeds! The kernels that you eat can also be used as the seed source to start new plants. Dont worry; the corn kernels that you eat wont grow in your stomach. Specific corn plants are set aside to provide seed. Corn Growth Stages The corn plants growth stages are broken down into vegetative and reproductive stages. The vegetative growth stages are VE (emergence of the plant), V1 (first fully expanded leaf), V2 (second fully expanded leaf), etc. up to however many leaves appear. The last stage is called VT, referring to when the tassel fully emerges.The reproductive stages are noted as R1 through R6. R1 refers to when the corn silks are first visible outside the husks and pollination occurs. (This process will be explained more fully later in the article.) During the other stages, the kernels are developing. At the final (R6) stage, the kernels have reached their maximum dry weight. Seedlings are dependent on kernel reserves up until about the V3 leaf stage when they become dependent on the roots to take up nutrients. Corn Roots Corn plants are unusual in that they have two distinct sets of roots: regular roots, called seminal roots; and nodal roots, which are above the seminal roots and develop from the plant nodes. The seminal root system includes the plants radicle (the first root emerging from the seed). These roots are responsible for taking up water and nutrients, and for anchoring the plant.The second root system, the nodal roots, is formed about an inch or so below the soil surface, but above the seminal roots. The nodal roots are formed at the base of the coleoptile, which is the primary stem that emerges from the ground. The nodal roots are visible by the V2 stage of development. The seminal roots are important to the survival of the seedling, and damage can delay emergence and stunt development. This is because the corn plant depends on the nutrients present in the seed until the nodal roots are developed. As soon as the coleoptile emerges from the soil, the seminal roots cease to grow. Nodal roots that form above the ground are called brace roots, but they function similarly to the nodal roots below the ground. Sometimes brace roots actually penetrate the soil and take up water and nutrients. These roots may be needed for water uptake in some cases, as the crown of a young corn plant is only about 3/4 below the soil surface! Therefore, corn can be vulnerable to dry soil conditions as they dont have a deep root system. Corn Stalk And Leaves Corn grows on a single stem called a stalk. Stalks can grow up to ten feet tall. The plants leaves emerge from the stalk. A single corn stalk can hold between 16 and 22 leaves. The leaves wrap around the stalk, rather than having a stem. The part of the leaf that wraps around the stem is called the node. Corn Reproductive Structures: The Tassel, Flowers, and Ears The tassel and the corn ears are responsible for reproduction and formation of the corn kernels. The tassel is the male part of the plant, which emerges from the top of the plant after all of the leaves have developed. Many male flowers are on the tassel. The male flowers release pollen grains which contain the male reproductive cells. The female flowers develop into the corns ears, which contain the kernels. The ears contain the female eggs, which sit on the corn cob. Silks - long strands of silky material - grow from each egg and emerge from the top of the ear. Pollination occurs when pollen is carried from the tassels to the exposed silks on the ear of corn, which is the female flower on the plant. The male reproductive cell goes down to the female egg contained within the ear and fertilizes it. Each strand of fertilized silk develops into a kernel. The kernels are arranged on the cob in 16 rows. Each ear of corn averages about 800 kernels. And, as you learned in the first section of this article, each kernel can potentially become a new plant!

Overwhelmed Heres a Great Way to Take Control of Your Job Search

Overwhelmed Heres a Great Way to Take Control of Your Job Search I have a confession to make: I am not naturally an organized person. If left to my own devices, I generally do whatever comes into my head to do at the moment. I am easily sidetracked and have a tendency to think I can do everything without regard to priorities. Sound familiar? If so, and if you are a job seeker, you might be experiencing some overwhelm as you conduct your search. Thankfully, there are tools available that can help. To tackle my lack of focus, for example, I have chosen to participate in a business coaching group where I am forced to create priorities and follow them- at least to some extent! You might benefit from some prioritization tools as well. Let’s say you decide to research companies you might want to work for. First, you’ll read my blog from last week, Top 5 Web Sites for Your Job Search Over the Holidays, and start listing companies that interest you. What’s next? The answer is not Apply to all the jobs and accept the first one that will take me. The answer isn’t even, Do extensive research on the 50 companies on my list. Instead, take some time to prioritize. First, make a list of your top 20-30 companies based on your research. Then get clear about what’s important to you so you can gather further information on the companies that best meet your requirements. Factors to consider: Job Function/Title Industry Commute Salary Benefits Opportunity for Growth Travel Company Reputation Size of Company Products I Resonate With Pick 5-6 of these items that are most important to you and score each of the companies in your list from 1-5 (1 = bad/low, 5 = good/high) on how they match up on each factor. You can make a simple chart to do this: Â   Factor #1 Factor #2 Factor #3 Factor #4 Factor #5 Factor #6 Total Company #1 Company #2 Company #3 Company #4 Look at the total scores and rank the companies from highest to lowest. Then start your information gathering, such as finding contact people at the organizations, with the highest-scoring companies. Concentrate on finding the hiring managers at those top companies and start to discover what challenges the companies are facing and how you can add value. Once you know your first choice, second choice, third choice, etc. you will be in a much stronger position as you approach the companies. You will know what you want so you can focus on that, rather than let the job market dictate your search. And you will reduce overwhelm by taking things one step at a time in a clear, organized way. Do you have methods you use to stay focused in your job search? Please share in the comments! Category:Job SearchBy Brenda BernsteinJanuary 27, 2014

Marketing Management Master Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Marketing Management Master - Assignment Example Secondly, the customers might not be as knowledgeable as the ones who were there for the larger boats. This means that the company has to educate the buyers on how to use their boats in addition to giving them appropriate maintenance and handling tips. All this would mean that the company has to handle the entire marketing setup in a different way compared what they were doing earlier. 1. Products that are made by the company are positioned as a niche product. This positioning has to be altered in order to ensure that the company does not lose out on their turnover. The company has to cultivate and build relationship with buyers of the smaller boats. 2. On analysing the pricing position of the product, it is clear that the company might have to sell larger numbers to reach the same turnover that they were doing earlier. This can be realised only if the company decides to sell these boats through a distributor network. 4. The company has to have a clear public communication program that would enable the company to reach the buyers and the targeted clients. This promotion is required in order to ensure that the product gains on the market. This overall strategy will be strengthened by the positive aspects that are already present with the company. These are typically, the brand of the company that would help it to realise the market much more easily. Secondly, there is also a technological supremacy that would help the company to market much better than the rest of the competition. However, it needs to look at the new set of customers differently and also approach them in a different method. In order to realise the overall objectives listed above the following three jobs need to be executed. 1. Appropriate stocking of the finished boats should be present for immediate selling. 2. Since the company has to sell larger numbers, they need to deal through a set of distributors. 3. Competition has to be studied well and continuously monitored to fix an appropriate pricing policy and customer satisfaction policies. These three objectives are discussed in detail below. Promotional Strategy The company has to ensure that the 'right' quantity of boats and yachts are maintained in stock. This will enable the company to dispatch or supply boats on demand and meet the customer requirements immediately. The stocks have to be planned in contrast to the original pull style production system that they had. They need to move over to the push style system that would expect the company to

African-American History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

African-American History - Essay Example Larsen, in her novel attempts to sketch out the Reconstruction Era through the portrayal of the two different, light skinned American African Women, Clare Kendry and Irene Redfield. Clare and Irene were childhood friends who get together after a long time sharing their bitter experiences of being born as Negroes, denied of basic rights, try to find out comfort and consolation each other. Clare and Irene were born in mixed ancestries with light skinned complexion which later adversely affecting the free flow of their life and arise the question of existence in them. The novel raises many questions on various themes like identity crisis, race, lies, sexuality and jealousy. While reading through the novel, the readers understand that the novel obviously reflecting the views of the young African Americans who are wedged with their light skinned complexion and are searching for their lost identity. The era of Reconstruction was notable for the imminent changes it brought out in the percep tions of people, especially their perception to slavery and black people. The novel mainly focuses on the ‘passing’ of the members of one class to that of the other by the illusion that this ‘pass’ will bring tremendous changes to their life and social status. The story of the novel moves on through two female characters—Clare Kendy and Irene Redfield. The novel begins with Irene reading the letter of her childhood friend, Clare. The reading of the letter enables the readers to understand the character of Clare, when Irene recollects thus; â€Å"There had been, even in those days, nothing sacrificial in Clare Kendry’s idea of life, no allegiance beyond her own immediate desire (Larsen 2).† These words clearly express the attitude of the African American people who were totally dejected and depressed after the Civil War. Irene adds that Clare was selfish, and cold, and hard. But even then she had kept with her a strange capacity of transforming warmth and