The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man

Set in post-Reconstruction America, a biracial young man, known as the "Ex-Colored Man," grapples with his identity amidst societal pressures. He faces a pivotal choice between embracing his African-American heritage through ragtime music or "passing" as a white man for a more conventional life. While presented as an autobiography, it is a fictional narrative inspired by real experiences and individuals from Johnson's life, exemplifying the "roman à clef" genre. This exploration of race and identity remains a poignant reflection of its time.