Cover of The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson Ebook The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man
Ebook · Sovereign

The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man

Author
James Weldon Johnson
Series
African Library
Language
English
Length
128 pages
ISBN
9781787365421
Published
17 January 2023
Imprint
Sovereign
  • african american
  • african
  • black culture
  • black heritage
  • harlem
  • discrimination
  • racism
  • equality
  • inequality
  • race

Description

The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson is a cornerstone of African American literature, as it provides a unique narrative in which the protagonist struggles to find his place within both African American and white social structures. The text serves to challenge existing notions of race and identity by providing an intimate glimpse into the life and thoughts of its protagonist. Through this exploration, Johnson seeks to expand the scope of African American literature by emphasizing the complexities of racial identity formation.

Author

James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938) was a poet, novelist, diplomat, and civil-rights leader of the Harlem Renaissance. The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man — a pioneering novel of racial identity told as a confession — remains his best-known work of fiction. Johnson wrote with elegance and moral seriousness about American life at the colour line, and his career joined art to public advocacy in a way few writers have matched.