The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man
- Author James Weldon Johnson
- Narrator Bill Andrew Quinn
- Publisher Blackstone Publishing
- Publish Date 1 December 2011
- Run Time 5 hours and 2 minutes
- Format Audio
- Genre Classic fiction, Ethnic studies, Historical fiction.
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What to expect
James Weldon Johnson’s The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man takes place in post Reconstruction era America and follows the story of a young biracial male. Johnson poses a complex dilemma: because the “Ex-Colored Man,” which is the only name by which the protagonist is referred, represents what, at the time was, a social contradiction of race and culture, he is forced to choose which aspect of his heritage to publicly express. His options are to embrace his black heritage and culture, or to pass as a white man cloaked in middle-class, mediocre obscurity. Johnson’s novel explores racial tensions in late nineteenth and early twentieth century culture through this poignant coming-of-age story.
Critics Review
“Johnson’s theme of moral cowardice sets his tragic story of a mulatto in the United States above other sentimental narratives. The unnamed narrator, the offspring of a black mother and white father, tells of his coming-of-age at the beginning of the 20th century. Light-skinned enough to pass for white but emotionally tied to his mother’s heritage, he ends up a failure in his own eyes after he chooses to follow the easier path while witnessing a white mob set fire to a black man…Recommended.”
“This remarkable man left a mark on the 20th century that goes beyond the boundary of race.”
| Author | James Weldon Johnson |
|---|---|
| Narrator | Bill Andrew Quinn |
| Duration | 5 hours and 2 minutes |
| Release Date | |
| ISBN | 9781609985875 |
| Format | Audiobook |
| Publisher | Blackstone Publishing |
| Genre | Classic fiction, Ethnic studies, Historical fiction |
| Availability | AU, GB, IE, US |
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