James Weldon Johnson 
The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man 

Originally published anonymously in 1912, The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man revealed as never before the color line dividing America, and the price it exacted on those souls who could traverse the two worlds. The book presents the fictional account of ‘an ex-colored man’ – an African-American who could pass for white – as he attempts to choose which side of the line will better suit his life, and his psyche. Later republished, properly, as the work of James Weldon Johnson, The Autobiography has gone on to become a classic novel of the early twentieth century, and Dreamscape is proud to present this new recording to coincide with the 100th anniversary of this great book.

About the author

James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938) was an American author, educator, and early civil rights activist. Johnson was a notable early leader of the NAACP, as well as an active scholar and writer, whose work includes novels, poems, and collections of folklore. He was also one of the first African-American professors at New York University.