The Autobiography of An Ex-Colored Man by Hannah Shergold https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju Hannah Shergold en-us 2018-10-17 01:37:46 UTC 2026-01-19 13:17:23 UTC hello@padlet.com Reflection sherghannah https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/294602633 The sources presented in the curation are all unique and provide different meanings and proofs to connect real world ideas to the novel, The Autobiography of an Ex Colored Man. These sources are things such as a list of laws created to prevent racism, articles that are written by famous people of today's world, and songs or pieces of art. The purpose of this work was to use real life scenarios and stories from icons in the media and people all around the globe to prove that the story described in this novel is something that persists today and is relatable. ]]> 2018-10-18 20:21:18 UTC https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/294602633 Theme 1 sherghannah https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/294603021 "The Color Line", White Privilege
"Each group’s experience was historically distinct, and was neither entirely unique nor reducible to a universalized, atemporal narrative of common suffering."
https://ingeveb.org/articles/beyond-the-color-line-jews-blacks-and-the-american-racial-imagination
Explanation: W.E.B. Du Bois explains how the "color line" is something that is historically specific and is relative to each individual's situation. Du Bois's theory is proven true through the narrator's experience being "on" the color line. Similarly, the narrator has the ability to choose which society he wants to be a part of at whichever time it is most beneficial to him. So in the Ex-Colored Man's case, he uses white privilege to make his life better in certain siutations by assuming a "white" identity.






"Passing"]]> 2018-10-18 20:22:33 UTC https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/294603021 Contemporary Connection sherghannah https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/296241714 This article written by Joleen Brantle is a story about her first hand experience being biracial. Brantle, like the Ex-Colored Man, growing up was very unsure about her identity. Brantle, like the Ex-Colored Man tailored her lifestyle to the life of a white individual, for she felt that having "white privilege" would benefit her ability to succeed in her community. ]]> 2018-10-24 00:50:34 UTC https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/296241714 Artistic Form sherghannah https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/296241911 “Gold coast slave ship bound for cotton fields / Sold in the market down in New Orleans / Scarred old slaver knows he's doing alright / Hear him whip the women just around midnight.”

This song "Brown Sugar" by the Rolling Stones is an example of Art Culture in which racism and discrimination is very prevalent. The lyrics above, show how historical forms of racism towards biracial individuals (as well as those simply of African heritage) is still demonstrated in media today. This song connected to the concepts of discrimination in the time period this novel was written in.]]> 2018-10-24 00:51:29 UTC https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/296241911 Summary sherghannah https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/296747809 The Ex-Colored man grew up in Georgia, raised by a single mother. Through the novel, he (who narrates from a first person perspective) remains nameless. While the narrator was still very young, he and his mother moved to Connecticut. He enrolled in a public school and proved that he was educationally and musically very advanced and talented. He befriended two boys who he find particularly interesting. The boys he becomes friends with are named Shiny and Red. These friendships seem to represent what the narrator sees as the "best" of each race 
(black and white). At school the Ex-colored man has an unfortunate situation where he comes to realize that he unlike the many other students at his school is not fully white. The story goes on to explain the many encounters the narrator has that question his identity and his race. The narrator goes to a club where he meets the widow and the millionaire. He rides a train and meets The Solider, The Texan, The Jewish Man, and The Professor. Lastly, the narrator meets "The Girl" who he falls in love with but still wrestles with the concept that he is biracial and whether or not he should tell her. The narrator ends up telling the girl about his true race and she leaves, and he is heartbroken. Yet she returns quite  while later and they get married and have two children. However she dies during the birth of their second child. The Ex-Colored Man is devastated, yet decided it is best for him and his children that he assume his "white" identity. In regard to the context of this story and the time period/location in which it exists click the link the below for further information. Overall, this story takes place in post-Reconstruction era America in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.


]]> 2018-10-25 02:11:05 UTC https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/296747809 Historical Connection sherghannah https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/297094688 -14th ammendment gave all people born in the United States the right to equal protection under the Constitution (this included recently freed slaves)

-Civil rights act of 1964, prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin by federal and state governments as well as some public places.

-Voting Rights Act of 1965, signed by president Lydon Johnson this act outlawed the discriminatory voting practices adopted in many southern states after the Civil War

-Loving v. Virginia, 388 U.S. 1, is a landmark civil rights decision of the United States Supreme Court which struck down all state laws banning interracial marriage

]]> 2018-10-25 17:45:09 UTC https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/297094688 Popular Opinions/Perceptions sherghannah https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/297107128 Blackness V. Whiteness in the Work Place
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jun/09/everyday-racism-america-black-white-spaces
Explanation: This article relates to the daily life a biracial individual experiences. In today's society African American people constantly feel as though they are being stereotyped by others.T he Ex-Colored Man never felt as though he had a place until he went to The Club and met the millionaire and the widow. Today many biracial people feel as though they do not have a role in society, this often occurs in the workplace. Biracial people feel that they have to work twice as hard in order to prove themselves.  ]]> 2018-10-25 18:04:24 UTC https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/297107128 sherghannah https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/297113453 2018-10-25 18:14:56 UTC https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/297113453 sherghannah https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/297116066 2018-10-25 18:19:00 UTC https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/297116066 sherghannah https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/297696755 2018-10-27 23:12:38 UTC https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/297696755 Theme 2: Self-Identity Explanation: Throughout the novel, The Ex-Colored Man struggles to define his true identity. This is due to his constant assimilation to being a part of the white or black community. In an article by The Seattle Times, Rachel Clad explains her personal story on what it is like to be biracial. Clad says, “People look at me and see African American, in my mind, that’s not who I am. I’m both and I’d like to be seen as both.”. Clad explains that identity is something that is different for each person. In contrast to the Ex-Colored Man, Clad wants to be seen through both her idenitities and represent both her cultures. For many other biracial individuals( specifically the Ex-Colored Man)assuming one identity and sticking to it is something that they do not wish to take on. Identity in this novel is an ambiguous, ceaseless thought. sherghannah https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/297838100 2018-10-29 00:59:13 UTC https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/297838100 Theme 3: Pop Culture Halle Berry is an African American actress who, like the Ex-Colored man struggled to define herself and her identity throughout her life. She explains in an article on Refinery 29 that as a child she was bullied and constantly felt out of place due to her biracial background. Berry says that the kids at school would call her an "oreo" which referred to having one black and one white parent. Halle Berry's experience is very similar to that of the Ex-Colored Man's. Although Berry decided to embrace her African American identity (unlike the Ex-Colored Man)she reached out to other ideas and hobbies in order to drive her to this embrace. Like the Ex-Colored man, Berry looked to outlets such as music and acting in order to realize how she truly felt about her mixed identity. sherghannah https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/297845648 2018-10-29 01:44:16 UTC https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/297845648 Theme 4: Secrecy "One black Ph.D. from Purdue University, who is on the job market and asked not to be identified, explained that concern: “I used to check the box next to ‘black’ or ‘African American,’ but I never got interviews. Just out of spite, I’ve checked ‘white’ or left it blank, and I got interviews. When I showed up, I got surprised or disappointed looks. Those interviews didn’t last very long.”In the Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man secrecy is an important part of the novel. The narrator constantly hides his identity from others, or in other words, chooses not to disclose it. Many people who apply for job interviews, who are biracial or simply just African American choose to not provide their race on the application form. As this article explains, often hiding ones race benefits the individual so that they are given a fairer opportunity in society. The Ex-Colored Man often hides his biracial identity or chooses to neglect a part of his culture in order to better his chances of success in society. sherghannah https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/297845882 2018-10-29 01:45:41 UTC https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/297845882 Theme 5: sherghannah https://padlet.com/sherghannah/qojjt2dxkiju/wish/297846136 Music/Ragtime
“Musicians have a really big part to play in spreading messages because they’re able to reach a large portion of people on an emotional level. Artists reach people at their heart; it’s the only time we meet in one place and put our differences aside. When you’re in a forum listening to music, all you feel in that moment is love and the understanding.”

Explanation: Alicia Keys is a biracial icon in the music industry. For her (like it is for the Ex-Colored Man) music is an escape from reality where race is not a determining factor in how you feel or what you understand. When the Ex-Colored Man goes to the Club and plays the piano he feels at ease. This environment, of music, allowed biracial individuals like Alicia Keys and the Ex-Colored Man to express themselves emotionally without worrying about the criticism and perceptions of others.

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