Here's a breakdown of the characters:
* The unnamed protagonist: The narrator of the story, a light-skinned Black man who passes for white. He struggles with his racial identity and his place in society. He experiences both the privileges of being perceived as white and the pain of being denied his true heritage.
* The "Ex-Colored Man's" wife: A white woman who marries the protagonist after he passes for white. Their relationship is complicated by the protagonist's hidden racial identity and the societal pressures they face.
* The "Ex-Colored Man's" mother: A Black woman who represents the protagonist's connection to his heritage. Her love and understanding provide him with a sense of belonging.
* The "Ex-Colored Man's" father: A white man who abandoned the protagonist's mother and represents the societal structures that perpetuate racial inequality.
* The "Ex-Colored Man's" friend: A Black man who represents the protagonist's connection to his racial community. He provides the protagonist with a different perspective on life and challenges him to confront his own prejudices.
* The "Ex-Colored Man's" brother: A Black man who is dark-skinned and experiences even greater racial discrimination than the protagonist. His struggles highlight the reality of the protagonist's privileged position.
While the characters in "The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man" are not deeply developed, they play important roles in exploring the themes of race, identity, and social class in early 20th-century America.