Colorism and Passing
In their fictional hometown of Mallard, Louisiana, the twins have first-hand experience with colorism. Though everyone in the town is Black, the community has been founded on concepts that discriminate against people with darker skin. The narrative highlights unconscious biases against darker-skinned individuals in African-American communities. The biases of their hometown and of society at large mold the perception of Stella and Desiree as two light-skinned black girls, dictating their choices on identity in adulthood. To escape racial prejudice and enjoy the privileges of whiteness in society, Stella passes as a white woman in her new life. On the other hand, Desiree chooses to embrace her origins by marrying a dark-skinned man, partly in response to her traumatic childhood. This conflict becomes the crux of the narrative as the characters try to navigate the social dynamics and racial tensions.
Secrets and Lies
The Vanishing Half concerns a multigenerational drama that ensues following the revelation of truths and secrets. Mother-daughter relationships are the main focus as the two generations of women come to terms with their choices and realities. Stella has been living a lie by passing as white in her marriage, her husband and daughter both oblivious to the truth. The story explores the hypocrisies of her conduct in her neighborhood, as she incites racial discrimination against a black family. Gradually, her secrets come to light, as Jude aims to reconnect the estranged members of her family in spite of Stella's convoluted lies.
Racism and Discrimination
The novel delves into the intersections in the lives of black women, transgender people, and gay people. As such, it highlights the discrimination that specific characters face in forming their identities in an intolerant society. As young girls, Desiree and Stella witness the brutality of racism in the Deep South by seeing the lynching of their father. In the prominently white neighborhood where Stella resides, she perpetrates already existing racial prejudice against the Walkers. Reese and some of his friends experience social obstacles as gay and trans people, whether or not they are perceived as such. None of these obstacles define the characters who encounter them, but they do affect the material conditions of their lives.
