The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man

What does it mean to hide your true self in order to survive?



The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man (1912), by James Weldon Johnson, is a groundbreaking novel that explores race, identity, and ambition in America at the turn of the 20th century.



Told as the fictional memoir of a biracial man who can "pass" as white, the story follows his journey through music, love, and society as he wrestles with the choice between embracing his African American heritage or living a life of safety and privilege by denying it.



With honesty, irony, and depth, Johnson exposes the harsh realities of racism while also celebrating the power of Black culture and creativity—especially the transformative force of ragtime and jazz.



At once deeply personal and universally relevant, this novel is both a social critique and a meditation on identity, leaving readers to reflect on freedom, sacrifice, and the price of belonging.



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