Ready Reference Treatise: The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man

By Raja Sharma

“The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man” by James Weldon Johnson was first published anonymously in 1912 by Sherman, French, and Company in New York.

The story revolves around a young biracial man, called “Ex-Colored Man” in the book. He happens to be living in post Reconstruction period in America in the late 19th and early 20th Century.

He had only two options, either of which he was compelled to choose: to embrace his black heritage and culture, or to live obscurely as a middle class white man.

Johnson wrote this book anonymously because there was a danger that his diplomatic carrier would be damaged if he signed his name.

Ready Reference Treatise: The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man
Copyright
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: Plot Overview
Chapter Three: Characters
Chapter Four: Complete Summary
Chapter Five: Critical Analysis

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raja Sharma
• Release date: Aug 7, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301170043

Raja Sharma

Raja Sharma is a retired college lecturer.He has taught English Literature to University students for more than two decades.His students are scattered all over the world, and it is noticeable that he is in contact with more than ninety thousand of his students.

Book preview

Ready Reference Treatise: The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man

Raja Sharma

Copyright

Ready Reference Treatise: The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man

Raja Sharma

Copyright@2013

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved

Chapter One: Introduction

The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson was first published anonymously in 1912 by Sherman, French, and Company in New York.

The story revolves around a young biracial man, called Ex-Colored Man in the book. He happens to be living in post Reconstruction period in America in the late 19th and early 20th Century.

He had only two options, either of which he was compelled to choose: to embrace his black heritage and culture, or to live obscurely as a middle class white man.

Johnson wrote this book anonymously because there was a danger that his diplomatic carrier would be damaged if he signed his name.

Initially, the book was not received so well by readers and reviewers. It was reprinted in the year 1927 by an influential publisher. In this edition, Johnson was credited as the author.

One might think that the book is an autobiography, but it is actually not, it is a novel. The story is based on the lives of the people known to the author. He has described real life events from their lives.

The text of the story is an example of a roman a clef.

Chapter Two: Plot Overview

The story of the novel is told from the first person point of view. The narrator of the story remains unnamed.

In the opening of the novel, the narrator states that he is going to disclose the great secret of his life.

At first he describes his childhood in Georgia where a single mother had raised him. His father occasionally visited them.

When the narrator happens to be very young, his mother and he move to Connecticut.

The narrator has a definite musical talent, and he soon proves himself as a musical prodigy. He starts attending a public school. He meets a white boy who is nicknamed Red. The narrator and Red become close friends. Red is older and bigger than the narrator.

There are several African American students at his school. The narrator is often intrigued by them. There is a very bright and ambitious boy nicknamed Shiny. The narrator is particularly intrigued by this boy.

One morning, the