The Skin Key is one of the Keys created by Harland Locke.
History[]
In 1851, Harland forged the Skin Key as a means to save his beloved, Delacorte, from a slaver in Georgia. Harland intended to use the key to pass Delacorte as white and live with him, but after using the key to change himself to an African-American man, he decided he liked being black and stayed that way for the rest of his life.[1]
In 1915, the Skin Key along with several other Keys were locked in the Vault of Shadows by Chamberlin Locke in order to prevent John Locke from using them to turn the tides of World War I.[2]
The skin key was used by Kinsey Locke and Bode Locke to change their skin so that Erin Voss would talk to them.[3]
Uses[]
The Skin Key appears like a small hand mirror with faces of seven different races along the perimeter. By looking into the mirror with a face selected, the user's own appearance changes to that of the selected race.
Guide to the Known Keys entry[]
"...I looked into the mirror, and turned it, so I became of the African race, and my skin was dark as coal. And it is a wonderment to me. All my thoughts had, until then, been bent on finding Delacorte and beseeching her to become free and white like myself. But when I saw my black features in the mirror, I was surprised to find I liked my own face better than I had ever liked it before. Ulysses considered me for the longest of times, before offering me my hat and saying "Remember to keep your eyes down Harland. You have the White Man's habit of meeting another man's gaze, but you will fare poorly if you behave that way here in Georgia.""
Trivia[]
- In the Netflix adaptation, the Skin Key is replaced by the Identity Key, which combines the powers of the Skin Key and the Gender Key.
References[]
- ↑ Locke & Key: Guide to the Known Keys. November 23, 2011
- ↑ Locke & Key: ...In Pale Battalions Go... #1. August 26, 2020
- ↑ Locke & Key: Keys to the Kingdom #2, "White". October 13, 2010