Passing in plain sight: reclaiming narratives of hidden Aboriginality

Abstract

Passing is an act of racial and cultural opacity—a historical phenomenon where people of colour masked deep familial histories—and created temporary realities without racial discrimination. While many First Nations people intentionally concealed their heritage for survival, others unknowingly passed trans-generationally later to discover their cultural histories and complex familial pasts. In times of overt political and social discrimination, passing became a real and viable option; what resulted is a legacy of transgenerational trauma that permeates the psyche of many First Nations people. This article explores the literature and film that considers passing from the United States and Australia to demonstrate a consistency of experiences between these contexts. Looking at these literary depictions of passing, we can start to articulate priorities for research on passing in Australia, especially the deconstruction of prevailing definitions of Aboriginality.