Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man

Published anonymously in 1912 and later acknowledged by Johnson in 1927, this novel follows the life of an unnamed narrator who is light-skinned enough to pass for a white man but struggles with his emotional connections to his black heritage.

The story delves into the narrator's experiences in various settings, including his early life, education, and encounters with different social and racial environments.

It is a powerful exploration of racial identity, cultural heritage, and the complexities of being a mulatto in early 20th-century America.