‘I was not white enough to be white, nor black enough to be black.’

First published anonymously in 1912, The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man became one of James Weldon Johnson’s most famous works, and remains a testament to the lives and experiences of both Johnson and his peers.

Although primarily a work of fiction, The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man offers many parallels with the life of Johnson himself. Set shortly after the Civil War, this powerful fictional memoir recounts the life of a biracial man, grappling with questions around identity, race and justice. Born to a Black mother and white father, our protagonist moves through different social worlds – from Black communities to elite white circles – witnessing heinous crimes against Black people and having to make the painful decision to ‘pass’ as white to keep safe. Deeply poignant and revolutionary for its time, The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man cements itself as a classic of American literature.

James Weldon Johnson (1871 – 1938) was an American writer and activist. A dedicated campaigner during the civil rights movement, he was a leader of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People. His literary work is famed for championing the poems and spirituals of Black culture, and is still widely read to this day.