Book Description:
The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson is a pioneering novel that explores the complexities of race, identity, and moral compromise in early 20th-century America. Framed as a confessional memoir, the story follows a light-skinned, biracial man who moves through vastly different social worlds — from Black communities in the South to elite white society in the North — before ultimately deciding to "pass" as white to secure material comfort and personal safety.
Torn between his artistic ambitions and the pressures of racial prejudice, the narrator offers an unflinching examination of the costs of denying one's heritage in a racially divided society. Rich in philosophical reflection, cultural insight, and emotional depth, Johnson's novel was ahead of its time in addressing the themes of racial passing, cultural belonging, and the enduring weight of America's color line.
Originally published anonymously in 1912 and later recognized as a foundational work of African American literature, The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man remains a powerful meditation on race, freedom, and identity.
