In the presence of segregations and discrimination during the late 19th and early 20th
century, many African American men changed their racial identity and “passed”
for white. Previous studies have suggested that this activity was associated with
increases in income and socioeconomic status despite the costs associated with
cutting ties with their black communities. This study adds to this literature by
evaluating the long-run effects of passing on old-age longevity. We construct
longitudinal data of black families in historical censuses (1880-1940) linked to their
male children’s social security administration death records (1975-2005). We
employ family fixed effects and show that those passing as white live roughly 9.4
months additional years of life relative to their non-passing siblings. Additional
analyses suggest substantial improvements in education and occupational standing
scores as potential pathways.