The Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man" presents a nuanced exploration of identity through its major characters, centering on an unnamed narrator who grapples with his mixed-race heritage. Born to a mulatto mother and a wealthy white father, the narrator's early life in Georgia and subsequent move to Connecticut shape his understanding of race. His sensitive nature and cultural upbringing are contrasted by his naivety, which culminates in a traumatic realization of his black identity following a harrowing encounter with racial violence.
Key figures include his mother, a well-read seamstress who profoundly influences his education and worldview, and Shiny, a gifted friend whose passion for black history inspires the narrator. Another significant character is Red, a loyal companion who supports the narrator during his identity crisis. The millionaire, who recognizes the narrator's musical talent, serves as a benefactor, aiding his career but also highlighting the complexities of racial dynamics. Additionally, a Cuban exile introduces the narrator to broader social struggles, enhancing his understanding of global issues surrounding race. Ultimately, these characters collectively underscore themes of identity, cultural heritage, and the psychological impacts of societal expectations.
The Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: James Weldon Johnson
First published: 1912
Genre: Novel
Locale: Southern United States, New York City, and Europe
Plot: Psychological realism
Time: Between the Civil War and World War I
The narrator, a musician and composer who is not named in the novel. The son of a mulatto woman and a rich white father, the narrator moves from Georgia to Connecticut at an early age. He is extremely light-skinned, and the truth of his race is kept from him; his discovery that he is black is a traumatic one. Having been reared by his mother, he develops into an extremely sensitive adult. He is well read, has good manners, and exhibits considerable culture. He is, however, also naïve and somewhat cowardly. The latter trait is most clearly seen when, after witnessing the lynching and burning of another black man in the rural South, the narrator elects to pass for white. Even after he becomes moderately successful and comfortable, he sometimes regrets his decision to leave the black race but is much too afraid to live as a black man, based on the lynching experience.
The narrator's mother, a seamstress, a mulatto former servant who has a child by her white employer. He arranges for her and the child to move to Connecticut. She is well read and possesses considerable knowledge of black life and history, which she passes on to her son. She also barters her services as a seamstress to secure tutors and music teachers for him. She is the major force in his life. She dies shortly after his graduation from high school.
Shiny, a boyhood friend of the narrator whose nickname derives from his extremely dark complexion. Shiny is the smartest person in the class and delivers the valedictory address on Toussaint-Louverture. This speech kindles in the narrator a love and appreciation for black history and culture. Shiny works his way through the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and goes on to become a professor at Fisk University. A chance meeting between Shiny and the narrator in New York leads the narrator to disclose his race to his white girlfriend.
Red, a boyhood friend of the narrator, so called because of his red hair and freckles. Red is not disposed to become a scholar. The narrator helps him through school, and they become fast friends after Red comforts him following his discovery of his black heritage. After high school graduation, Red's ambition is to work in a bank.
The millionaire, the narrator's benefactor. The millionaire encounters the narrator while frequenting a club where the narrator plays ragtime. He hires the narrator to perform at his private parties and later takes him to Europe. When the narrator elects to return to the United States, the millionaire provides generously for his expenses.
The Cuban exile, a cigar factory worker. He befriends the narrator upon his arrival in Jacksonville. The narrator rooms with the Cuban and his wife, and the Cuban helps him get a job at the cigar factory. He also schools the narrator on the Cuban revolution, which broadens the narrator's awareness of the plight of people of color throughout the world.