Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man
by James Weldon Johnson

Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man: Allusions 1 key example

Definition of Allusion

In literature, an allusion is an unexplained reference to someone or something outside of the text. Writers commonly allude to other literary works, famous individuals, historical events, or philosophical ideas... read full definition
In literature, an allusion is an unexplained reference to someone or something outside of the text. Writers commonly allude to other literary works, famous individuals... read full definition
In literature, an allusion is an unexplained reference to someone or something outside of the text. Writers commonly allude to... read full definition
Preface
Explanation and Analysis—Veil and Freemasonry:

In the Preface, Johnson alludes to W. E. B. Du Bois's foundational book The Souls of Black Folk as he describes the mission of his own book. He also uses a metaphor to elaborate on what he aims to accomplish:

In these pages it is as though a veil had been drawn aside: the reader is given of view of the inner life of the Negro in America, is initiated into the “freemasonry,” as it were, of the race.