The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man

Racial identity is intricately explored through the life of a mixed-race narrator in this autobiography. The protagonist, raised in a secure environment by his mulatto mother with financial support from his white father, discovers his black heritage unexpectedly. This revelation triggers a series of identity transformations, ultimately leading him to choose integration into white society. James Weldon Johnson's narrative delves into the complexities of race and belonging in a racially divided America.