The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man [Kindle Edition]

Despite the title, this book is actually a complete work of fiction; although there are number of things within it that are clearly inspired by the authors actual experiences. The main character starts life as a young boy living in the south of the USA in the latter part of the 19th century / early 20th century. It then details the various key stages in his life through to marriage.

The book details the struggle of the African-American people of the period; this was after all, at a time long before the civil rights movement. Although they had gained the abolition of slavery, and the right to vote, it was still not universally applied and segregation, bigotry and prejudice were the norm.

It contains some extraordinary writing; beautiful phrasing and eloquent descriptions. Although there are some examples of the so stereotypical characters of African descent, he also shows the intellectuals, the business men, the sports heros, the growing middle class, all with a burning desire to improve their lot.

Having been written in the early 20th century, it contains language that would now been seen as lacking in respect or even offensive. There is a description of a conversation between a number of people which highlights many of the commonly held opinions of the time. There is also a short chapter describing the lynching of a young man, with highly graphic details of his death.

This is a truly inspired piece of work and one that is most definitely worth reading; although it may require some parental guidance for younger or more immature people.

This autobiography details the life of a young man of black descent growing up at the turn of the 20th century. He is the son of a coloured seamstress & a white southern gentleman growing up in Connecticut. He is about 10 years old before he even realises that he is "coloured". The book charts his life and his attitudes and those around him to the "question of colour". The book is beautifully written and quickly draws you into his life and adventures. It explains the attitudes of black people of the time, concerning themselves and how they perceived the discrimination that they dealt with on a day to day basis. It is an interesting comparison against modern American life; the first black President, and modern attitudes to race and bigotry, how far race relations have come and how much further they have still to go. At the end of the book I was struck by the hero's ethical musings on whether he had a duty to disclose his ethnicity to the woman he loved. A dilemma which seems outdated now, but at the time was a highly charged issue.
An interesting study for anyone interested in life and attitudes from a century ago, or who just enjoys a good period novel.

It is my belief most WASPs should read this text. It would a) introduce you to one of the first classics in black literature, b) decide whether or not you would like to read further books from this author and other black writers, and c) be a valuable and worthwhile history lesson while serving its purpose to entertain.

This is a first-person narrative account on the life of Johnson. Unaware in youth of his race, he painfully learns the lessons of segregation, being an only child, and loneliness. Trying to attend school in Atlanta per the request of his mother, Johnson instead finds employment in Florida, Georgia and New York, then travelling to Europe as a musician, only to return to the South to discover reevaluated ideas of employeement and duty.

The realities of Johnson's actions, reasonings and ideas may disturb people. When reading this, take into account the historical context of this piece, and how dramatic idealogies, racism and socioeconomic conditions were in the early years of the 1900s. A bold, intense and sick account of one of America's most important and anything but sanguine writers to emerge from this time. A timeless read and obvious influence on Richard Wright's "Black Boy."