Who is Brian Redfield from Passing and what is their importance?

Brian Redfield is Irene's husband. He is a physician, but he dislikes his job, and he dislikes living in a country where black people are lynched for nothing other than the color of their skin. Brian wants to move to Brazil.... a place he believes his family can live in peace, but Irene won't move. She blocks Brian's plans to move to Brazil because she believes that it is best for her sons. Brian, however, resents her interference and he decision was cause a rift in their marriage.