Irene Redfield uses this term when referring to Clare Kendry. The concept of an Ivory Mask is symbolic of those who pretend to be white, thereby slipping behind a mask and taking on the role of a white person. For Clare, however, this role has become her permanent character. She no longer passes in the sense that she goes back and forth between being a black person and being a white person. Clare has given up her black identity, so to speak, and has embraced the ivory mask not only by marrying a racist white man, but by having a child with him. As such, though the Ivory Mask is supposed to be something that can be slipped on and off, its use in the novel works to highlight how complex the concept of race is, as well as the act of passing, to those involved.

Brian Redfield bemoans the plight of African-Americans in the United States, and has said that his dream is to move his family to Brazil in search of a better life. Irene, however, loves her country and believes that life will be harder somewhere else.