Reviews

The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson

bookishdamzel's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man is well written literary fic book with the writing style of a memoir. 

The narrator's name is never revealed. You only learn that he has a biracial background and that he doesn't fit perfectly in either side of his heritage (being half black & half white). He grew up having the privilege of being light-skinned and white passing (unless somebody knew of his background - which he learned later on in life). As an adult, he tries to learn more about black culture in the south and finds that he loves jazz and church/choir music, the people, etc. He begins embracing this half of his heritage more, however still struggles with himself as he travels around the world.

Ultimately the man decides to choose the safety of his white passing appearance for his wife and children, who do not know he's biracial after seeing a public lynching. Instead of embracing his black heritage & himself as a biracial man. He effectively turned his head away from the horrors people, like himself, faced in the book that is rooted in real history.

 

There's plenty more to be said on this book and I do think it's worth the read! I enjoyed it for what it was and from my understanding this book inspired a lot of Harlem Renaissance authors of the time! 

hanna2411's review

dark informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

graveyardpansy's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 stars? certainly a lot of outdated ideas, but really interesting nonetheless.

iluvmycats12's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

onyxburst's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A reflective book.   It has given me some perspective, and is a worthwhile read.   

febyidrus's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.25

bwood95's review

challenging reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

k_mcday's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

divantefrazier's review against another edition

Too slow 🫤

memoryoflife's review

challenging informative reflective slow-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