The ending to the Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man was really interesting and it pulled all of us in many ways. The decision he made to "pass" could be seen as a good decision or one that offends someone who would choose otherwise. As we sat and discussed the ending to the story, I was still just as torn with his decision as I was when I read it, especially after hearing everyone else's feelings.
His decision should not be a surprise. Alot of students were saying they would make the same kind of choice. For him, the type of lifestyle that was lived in the south was something he had never witnessed before. Even reading it was extremely graphic and in a way scary so I can understand his decision. However, if we were to look at it as a person of pride and who have a huge respect for themselves, we could see them taking a different route. I definitely sympathize with the narrator as I'm sure I would make the same choice. I'm sure he felt a little regret as he let everything he fought for and his dream he had always wanted get away from him. His decision has definitely left a "what would I have done" question that I just can't stop asking. Like I said before, I would probably make the same decision, I'd be extremely scared! However, I would definitely take my pride of self and self-respect into consideration because what he was doing was definitely admirable.
I really enjoyed this book alot! It was an easy read as well as very interesting.
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I definately agree that the decision for him to decide to pass as white was a difficult choice. After our discussion in class, it seemed to still be questionable if it was the right choice. I as well, can see how he would want to pass for white. Witnessing the brutal attacks African Americans went through and the treament from whites would never make me want tobe African American and possibly suffer through what so many went through. On the other hand, he did abandon his race and the other half of him. I think for him it was a hard choice, but at the time was the easiest way out, of a terrible situation that was not going to change any time soon.
I too sympathize with the narrator in his decision to “pass” for white. While reading the end of the book I thought that either path he choose was risky. If he decided to stand up for the black race he would’ve had a harder life, living in fear of the violence that whites displayed toward African Americans. On the other hand, “passing” for white was dangerous as well. Just think about what would have happened if the whites he was living in society with found out and the word spread. Then he and his family wouldn’t be accepted by the whites anymore as well as the blacks. I would think that most African Americans would be ashamed and even not accept the narrator as a real African American because he turned his back on his heritage and his people. No matter which way he chose to live, he never felt like he never belonged to either race due to his physical appearance resembling a white man and his underlining knowledge that he was part black.
I would have made the same decision as the narrator did just because I would have been scared. Especially after the lynching that he witnessed. I couldn't picture just standing there watching that happen to anyone no matter the color or who the person was...But, I do feel like he could have let it be known that he was black and he could have made some big chances in society because of how educated he was.
The decision to "pass" was the good decision even though it would probably offend a lot of people. His decision definitely wasn’t a surprise to "pass". After seeing the lynching I would choose to "pass" if I could back then. He definitely had to look at self and self respect it is pretty much a life or death choice.
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