A Review Of Mathew Kelly's Autobiography Of An Ex-Colored Man

An author by the name of Mathew Kelly depicted his view point of what courage was. He stated, "Courage is not the absence of fear but the acquired ability to move beyond fear." Some would view this as the standard of what it means to be courageous, others would never be able to have the ability. One of those individuals who do not possess the ability to be courageous would be a unnamed man who narrated The Autobiography Of An Ex-Colored Man. A man who faced the challenges of blurred racial lines, and could not make a distinct decision of his true character. Readers should view this book critical of the narrator 's actions and decisions concluding him to be a coward. The ex colored man should be considered a coward because of his inability to accept his race, and his refusal to follow the traditions of his upbringing. Being critical of him is not racist; however, it is he proves that he was less willing to accept his heritage. Though some would say if he had the ability to pass as a white man he should do so he because it was a bad time period for African Americans. However, like an unsigned article from 1912 stated, "Rather than face the penalties and the odium of being a colored man he renounced his race,"(282). Early learning taught him that being colored was an issue. When he realized the truth, he sought out his mother. "I buried my head in her lap and blurted out: 'Mother, mother, tell me, am I a nigger? ' ' '(12). He knew that being a Negro was not desirable and buried his head in his mom’s lap seeking any form of comfort. He was in despair. That feeling of desperation never left him and he hid the fact that he was colored. His actions of hiding his true identity should be criticized. Posing as a white man, instead of representing yourself as colored, is another reason for criticism. He even stated," I finally made up my mind that I would neither disclaim the black race nor claim the white race;..." (139) He tried to be what society had called him; he was not colored. Therefore, the problems that colored people faced regularly were not his problems and did not stir him to action. Their problems were not his problems. An unnamed author from a Philadelphia telegraph said, “He seems to have possessed most …show more content…
He discusses his decision to be a white man and reveals to himself that, "…I cannot repress the thought that, after all, I have chosen the lesser part, that I have sold my birthright for a mess of pottage."(154) His lack of confidence throughout the story served no purpose. Why did it take a lifetime to realize that he chose the lesser part and did not live life to the fullest extent possible? In addition to this, "mess of pottage" means he chose what was more attractive in the short run without identifying or acknowledging that he may feel differently in the long run. Discussing the ending Steven Wander said, "From a certain perspective, the ex-colored man 's decision is anything but unreasonable, and no cause for self-censure,"(43) but the story is based on his "self-censure". A successful music career was not dependent on him being white or black, thus his insecurities did not need to be a central theme. It is the uncertainty that leaves a sour taste because ultimately the narrator should be seen as a