Plum Bun: A Novel Without a Moral

Jessie Redmon Fauset

Plum Bun, originally published in 1929, follows the journey of Angela Murray, a young Black woman of mixed heritage navigating the complexities of race and ambition during the Harlem Renaissance. Growing up in a Black middle-class neighborhood in Philadelphia, Angela dreams of achieving recognition as a painter. Convinced that success is reserved for those within white society, she uses her light skin to “pass” as white, distancing herself from her family, especially her darker-skinned sister, Virginia. Angela’s longing for a life of prestige leads her to New York City, where she’s swept into the vibrant art scene and the seductive allure of a life lived on her own terms.

In her quest for success and acceptance, Angela experiences betrayal, romance, and heartbreak, each encounter drawing her further away from her true self. Yet, as she immerses herself in the world of New York’s elite, she begins to confront the toll of denying her heritage. Fauset’s Plum Bun is an intimate portrait of a young woman’s search for identity, capturing the bittersweet reality of self-discovery. Through Angela’s journey, Fauset examines themes of race, gender, and societal expectations with a compassionate eye, celebrating the everyday beauty of Black life and inspiring readers to question the cost of fitting into a world that demands one deny their own truth.

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