The Wife of his Youth and Other Stories of the Color Line, and Selected Essays

"The Wife of His Youth and Other Stories of the Color Line, and Selected Essays" by Charles W. Chesnutt is a compilation of stories and essays set in America after the Civil War. These writings shine a light on the complicated topics of race, who people think they are, and where they fit in society. The stories focus on African-American characters facing difficulties caused by racial divisions, including biases within their own community based on skin tone, and the book looks at belonging, love, respect, and being accepted. One story presents Mr. Ryder, a respected member of the Blue Vein Society—an organization of light-skinned African-Americans seeking social status—as he plans a ball for Mrs. Molly Dixon, whom he hopes to marry. However, the sudden appearance of an old black woman named 'Liza Jane, searching for her husband who fled slavery, forces Mr. Ryder to consider loyalty and past relationships, ultimately raising questions about what society expects from him and others.