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bephhh's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.75
jenmkin's review against another edition
4.0
The thematic thread of the significance of music that Johnson weaves throughout the story and is such a beautiful way to represent the narrator’s process of decision making.
Parts of the book are hard to read, because Johnson doesn’t shy away from the harsh treatment of Black people in the South, but rather forces his readers to experience these truths along with his narrator, a necessary confrontation of the facts that refuses to romanticize or overlook something horrible.
Parts of the book are hard to read, because Johnson doesn’t shy away from the harsh treatment of Black people in the South, but rather forces his readers to experience these truths along with his narrator, a necessary confrontation of the facts that refuses to romanticize or overlook something horrible.
saho's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mouhy's review against another edition
5.0
Feels as relevant today as the day it was published. It touches upon so many issues that to this day plague society: racism, colorism, tokenism, activism, appropriation, whitewashing and so much more. As with Nella Larsen's novels, I'm in awe of the fact that works of such honesty and authenticity exist and for the life of me, I can't help but wonder how these have not yet been made part of the American Canon.
aoosterwyk's review against another edition
3.0
I listened to this not knowing that it was a work of fiction. The story of a young musician, of mixed-race, unmarried parents, who is raised with no connection to black culture. He becomes successful, lives for a time in Europe with a wealthy patron, and eventually marries a white woman and has two children with her.
Frank discussions of race and class are woven throughout the novel.
Frank discussions of race and class are woven throughout the novel.
bsmorris's review against another edition
4.0
A fascinating look at race originally published in 1912. Johnson's protagonist shows insight into the socio-political complexities of being black in America. This is also an interesting type of novel - a first-person narrative written like an auto-biography. I really enjoyed the character development and insights into our history.
manda2491's review against another edition
5.0
Written from the perspective of an unnamed biracial man, The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man provides a fictional portrayal of race relations at the turn of the 20th century in the United States and Europe. The narrator describes discovering his mixed race in childhood, experiencing segregation as a young adult, and eventually choosing to pass as white. The book frames the 'Race Question' in its historical context of ragtime, cakewalks, and brutal lynchings. The narrator occupies a place of privilege due to his lighter skin and, as a result, can seem classist and occasionally derogatory. Yet, this privilege is foiled by the narrator's friend Shiny who is able to obtain success while embracing his racial heritage.
jessmbark's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0