by Jessie Redmon Fauset (Author)
2020 Reprint of the 1924 Edition. There Is Confusion centers on two families, the New York Marshalls and the Philadelphia Byes. In delineating their histories, Fauset stresses the significance of kinship and origins. She also shows the interconnectedness of the black and white races within these families in order to challenge the prevailing notion that black is evil and white is good. A particular strength is its focus upon black women's psychological reactions to sexism and racism. Joanna Marshall-beautiful, ambitious, talented, confident, but snobbish-fights to overcome obstacles against her race and gender in her attempt to become a famous singer and dancer. Her attitude that with enough determination "colored" people can be anything they want helps her to achieve at least partial victories. Another woman, Maggie Ellersley, struggles against the same obstacles of race and gender but with the added struggle against classism. Maggie lives in a tenement with her laundress mother and slides further down the social scale when she marries a "common gambler," after her romance with Philip Marshall is thwarted by his sister Joanna. Eventually Maggie leaves her gambling husband, reunites with Philip, and marries him, but happiness is fleeting for Philip soon dies.