how many chapters are in the autobiography of an ex colored man

What is the genre of the autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man?

The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson James Weldon Johnson's The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man is a fictional, tragic tale about a young mulatto's coming-of-age in the early 20th century.

What is the plot of the Ex-Colored Man?

Plot summary 1 Early life. Born shortly after the Civil War in a small Georgia town, the narrator's African-American mother protected him as a child and teenager. 2 Time with the Rich White Gentleman. While playing ragtime at a late night hot spot in New York, the Ex-Colored Man caught the attention of a wealthy white gentleman. 3 Passing. ...

What are the three classes in the Ex-Colored Man?

Living in an all black community, he discovers and describes three classes of black people: the desperate, the domestics, and the independent workmen or professionals. The Ex-Colored Man believed the desperate class consists of lower-class black people who loathe the whites.

Who published Johnson’s autobiography?

Johnson originally published The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man anonymously in 1912, via the small Boston publisher Sherman, French, & Company.

How long is Autobiography of an Ex-colored man?

The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored ManFirst editionAuthorJames Weldon JohnsonPublisherSherman, French, & Co.Publication date1912Pages2363 more rows

Is The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man a true story?

"The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man" by James Weldon Johnson is the fictional telling of the story of a young biracial man, referred to only as the "Ex-Colored Man", living in post Reconstruction era America in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.

How does The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man end?

The narrator's wife dies delivering their second child, and the “ex-colored man” ends his narrative by summarizing his continual conflicting feelings about his “present position in the world.” He loves his children, but he feels he has deserted his race and, after seeing Booker T.

What is the main idea of The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man?

The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, novel by James Weldon Johnson, published in 1912. This fictional autobiography, originally issued anonymously in order to suggest authenticity, explores the intricacies of racial identity through the eventful life of its mixed-race (and unnamed) narrator.

Who is red in The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man?

Red Head. Red Head is the nickname the narrator gives to his closest friend at school, an older, awkward boy with freckles and red hair. Red Head is a slow student and has been kept back several times, so he is four or five years older than the narrator and in the same grade.

Who wrote The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man?

James Weldon JohnsonThe Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man / AuthorJames Weldon Johnson was an American writer and civil rights activist. He was married to civil rights activist Grace Nail Johnson. Johnson was a leader of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, where he started working in 1917. Wikipedia

Why did the ex colored man pass?

The Ex-Colored Man's choice to ultimately “pass” at the end of the novel has been the cause of controversy amongst readers. Many claim his choice to “pass”…show more content… Thus, he is convinced “passing” for a member of the white society would safeguard him from a life of uncertainty and violence.

What does the ex colored man do when he returns to New York after his time in the South?

What does the ex-colored man do when he returns to New York after his time in the South? He hones his business skills and begins accruing great sums of money.

Question for The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man

The narrator had fallen in love. He was determined that she wouldn't learn that he wasn't white... meeting old friends might expose him, and when h...

On the train, what are the two sides of the argument the narrator listen to between the Texan and the Ohio professor?

Check this out: https://www.gradesaver.com/the-autobiography-of-an-excolored-man/study-guide/summary-chapters-x-xi

Chapter 7-8

By class,do you mean economic class? Are you referring to The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man?

When was the autobiography of an ex-colored man published?

Even though The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man was first published in 1912, it contains themes of self-actualization, "passing", the cultural contributions of African-Americans, and common consciousness, all of which were ubiquitous features of Harlem Renaissance fiction.

What is the theme of the book The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man?

Even though The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man was first published in 1912, it contains themes of self-actualization, "passing", the cultural contributions of African-Americans, and common consciousness, all of which were ubiquitous features of Harlem Renaissance fiction. Like Johnson's narrator, Harlem Renaissance writers viewed their language as performative speech and strove to prove that they were worthy of equal stature in American society.

What does the narrator conclude about the color of the people?

The narrator concludes that this division is what makes the "colored" people more mysterious to white Americans, while "colored" people understand whites, their oppressors, in a much deeper way. The narrator explains how this new awareness of his race changes his behavior towards other people, and not the other way around.

What does the narrator feel about Red?

The narrator feels that he “benefit [s]" from Red's "strength and faithfulness” and Red, meanwhile, sees the mutual advantage of the narrator's “wit and quickness”. The narrator mentions that he there are a few "colored" boys and girls in his school and class; one of them, nicknamed “ Shiny ” for his polished black skin and sparkling eyes, ...

How does the narrator describe his childhood?

As this novel is structured as an autobiography, the narrator begins by describing his childhood, setting up the context that he grows up in and that develops his identity. Identity is one of the central themes of the text and will be discussed in later analyses, but it is clear that the narrator's childhood experiences are crucial to his later development. He grows up not knowing that he is "colored" and comes by this knowledge in a humiliating way. He does not know his father and spends his adult life consequently grappling with the notion of manhood and how it impacts his racial identity. Johnson also establishes that the narrator is brilliant and a gifted musician, which will later facilitate his forays into both sides of the racial divide as he attempts to reconcile the two. These early chapters also introduce one of the few characters with a name -Shiny- and present him as a foil for the narrator as a man who embodies a different, more authentic form of blackness.

Why can't the narrator conceive of his white father as truly different from him?

As an older man, the narrator understands that at the time his younger self could not conceive of his white father as truly different from him because “he had only a faint knowledge of prejudice and had no idea at all how it ramified and affected our entire social organism.”.

What is the first person narrator?

Summary: The first-person narrator, whose name the reader does not know (for the purposes of this study guide, he will be referred to as “the narrator”), begins by explaining that he Is going to divulge his greatest secret, a painful and fascinating secret that he has kept for years. He describes his early childhood growing up in ...

What is the story of the ex-colored man?

The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man (1912/1927) by James Weldon Johnson is the fictional account of a young biracial man, referred to only as the "Ex-Colored Man," living in post- Reconstruction era America in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He lives through a variety of experiences, including witnessing a lynching, that convince him to "pass" as white to secure his safety and advancement, but he feels as if he has given up his dream of "glorifying" the black race by composing ragtime music.

What are the three classes of black people in the Ex-Colored Man?

Living in an all black community, he discovers and describes three classes of black people: the desperate, the domestics, and the independent workmen or professionals. The Ex-Colored Man believed the desperate class consists of lower-class black people who loathe the whites. The domestic worker class comprises black people who work as servants ...

What does the ex-colored man's devotion to the white gentleman mean?

The Ex-Colored Man's devotion to the white gentleman expresses the relationship that some slaves had with their masters (slaves who showed devotion to the slave-owner). Johnson suggests that, although the Ex-Colored Man had "freedom," he was still suffering from the effects of slavery.

What is the story of the Great Secret of My Life?

The novel begins with a frame tale in which the unnamed narrator describes the narrative that follows as "the great secret of my life." The narrator notes that he is taking a substantial risk by composing the narrative, but that it is one he feels compelled to record, regardless. The narrator also chooses to withhold the name of the small Georgia town where his narrative begins, as there are still living residents of the town who might be able to connect him to the narrative.

What does the ex-colored man do after the lynching?

After the lynching, the Ex-Colored Man decides to " pass " as white. He gives up his dream of making music to glorify his race and thinks he does not want to be "identified with people that could with impunity be treated worse than animals," or with people who could treat other humans that way.

Why did the ex-colored man use his music?

Even though life was pleasant, it was void of substance; using his music to aid poor African Americans he felt would be a better use of his talents.

Where was Time with the Rich White Gentleman played?

Time with the Rich White Gentleman. While playing ragtime at a late night hot spot in New York, the Ex-Colored Man caught the attention of a wealthy white gentleman. The gentleman's liking for ragtime develops as liking for the Ex-Colored Man himself.

What chapter is the autobiography of an ex-colored man?

Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man: Chapter 1. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. The narrator explains that this writing gives away his greatest, most carefully maintained secret, much like a criminal who tells someone about his deeds, ...

What does the narrator call the black and brown boy?

The narrator took to calling him “ Shiny ,” and he was the best student in the class in every respect—he learned quickly but also studied tirelessly, and won prize after prize through high school. But the other kids looked down on him.

What does the narrator remember about his mother?

There were also various people in the house, but the narrator only remembers his mother and “a tall man with a small, dark mustache,” shiny shoes, and gold jewelry, which the narrator used to admire.

What age did the narrator start school?

At age nine , the narrator entered school and was surprised to be surrounded by boys of all sorts, including some “little savages.” He felt like a stranger, since everyone else seemed to already know one another. But he did know his teacher, who spoke straight to him, giving him “a certain sort of standing in the class” and making him more comfortable. He started making friends but was afraid around girls—he still is—and his first friend was “a big awkward boy with a face full of freckles and a head full of very red hair,” a few years older than the rest of the class because he was held back so often. “ Red Head ” was strong but dull, and the narrator weak but smart, so “there was a simultaneous mutual attraction.”

Why does the narrator see himself as white?

It is also clear that the narrator sees himself as white precisely because he has not yet had to confront his blackness, unlike the other children who obviously look the part.

Why is the remorse in question here?

The remorse in question here is the narrator’s disappointment that he chose an ordinary white life over the chance to shape black history. While his decision to live as white was a personal “tragedy” he now regrets but cannot take back, it is still a valuable story because it shows the contingency of race: by crossing the color line, he disproves racists’ insistence that there must be an inherent difference between whites and blacks.

What is the metaphor for the narrator's extravagant life in the North?

The narrator’s comparatively extravagant life in the North serves as a metaphor the regional differences between the South and the North, which was not only wealthier, but provided many more opportunities for free blacks. Despite his race, the narrator seems to immediately achieve status, and his new clothes recall his father’s flashy outfits in Georgia.

What is the book The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man about?

James Weldon Johnson's The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man is a fictional, tragic tale about a young mulatto's coming-of-age in the early 20th century. The unnamed narrator, who has a black mother and white father, is light-skinned enough to pass for a white man but his emotional connections to his mother's heritage make him unable ...

What chapter does the narrator travel to Atlanta?

The narrator describes his journey to Atlanta to attend school and the theft of his money when he gets there. Chapter 5. The narrator finds a boarding house for “colored people” and becomes acquainted with the local black citizens. Chapter 6. The narrator travels to New York City and describes ragtime music.

Where does the narrator go in Chapter 9?

Chapter 9. The narrator leaves New York City and heads to Paris with his new friend. After spending a good deal of time together, they part company and the narrator heads for Boston. Chapter 10. On the way to Boston, the narrator strikes up a conversation with another man regarding racial issues.

What is the preface of the book?

Preface. The preface to the book. Chapter 1. The narrator describes his early life at home with his mother. Chapter 2. The Narrator reflects on his first day of school and understands the difference between the races and what they think of each other. Chapter 3.

Why is autobiography important in African American literature?

Autobiography has been a mainstay in courses on African American literature because of its layered description of racial tensions and the conflicting nature of identity in the early 20th century. Johnson was an avid reader and a student at Columbia University when he started working on the novel.

Is the autobiography of an ex-colored man true?

James Weldon Johnson ’s The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man is one of the most significant works of fiction by an African American author and one of the preeminent works of the Harlem Renaissance (although it was published first in 1912 and reissued in 1927). As it was published anonymously, many readers assumed it was a true story. Autobiography has been a mainstay in courses on African American literature because of its layered description of racial tensions and the conflicting nature of identity in the early 20th century.

How long do men ride together in a smoker?

In the North men may ride together for hours in a “smoker” and unless they are acquainted with each other never exchange a word; in the South, men thrown together in such manner are friends in fifteen minutes. There is always present a warm-hearted cordiality which will melt down the most frigid reserve. It may be because Southerners are very much like Frenchmen in that they must talk; and not only must they talk, but they must express their opinions.

Who was too much astonished by the question to venture any reply?

The Texan was too much astonished by the question to venture any reply.

Overview

History

Plot summary

Themes

Reception and later criticism

External links