The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man

Exploring the complexities of race relations in America, this fictional account follows a young biracial man in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As a jazz pianist in New York, he grapples with his identity after forming a friendship with a wealthy white man, which ultimately leads him to confront his feelings of subservience. A traumatic experience in the South compels him to abandon his black heritage and "pass" as white. The narrative addresses themes of class, race, and discrimination, marking it as a significant work of the Harlem Renaissance.