ash-faced, adj. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

ash-faced adj.

[the ‘grey’ skin tone]

(US) having a light complexion, applied to light-skinned blacks.

1902		DN II 305: Ash-faced [...] applied to mulattoes or light negros in contempt.
1959		Kerouac Doctor Sax 43: You know some old gray ash-faced dead ghost is waxing his profile to candlelight .