August Wilson & Fences

Life & Background Born in Pittsburgh to a white father (Frederick August Kittle) who never lived with his family and a black mother (Daisy Wilson) from North Carolina. He shared life with his mother and five siblings. 1960s - Flunked out of 9th grade and at worked menial jobs beginning at age 16. He received his education in libraries and in town hubs.

Life & Background 1960s - 1970s - Became involved in the civil rights movement and began to describe himself as black nationalist. Moved to Minneapolis and began to write, clearly using speech patterns and rhythms that were familiar to him from black neighborhoods of Pittsburgh. his writing was also strongly influenced by the blues.

Life & Background Began writing plays in Pittsburgh and then took a job in St. Paul writing dramatic skits for the Science Museum of Minnesota. 1968 - Founded and directed the Black Horizon Theatre Company in Pittsburgh in a predominantly black neighborhood referred to as the Hill.

Life & Background In 1972 he began writing a play, Jitney, about a Gypsy cab station, which was produced in 1978 at Black Horizon and in 1982 at the Eugene O'Neill Center's National Playwright Conference. The play was revived and presented at the 1997 National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

The Pittsburgh Cycle 1900s – Gem of the Ocean 1910s – Joe Turner’s Come and Gone 1920s – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (set in Chicago) 1930s – The Piano Lesson 1940s – Seven Guitars 1950s – Fences 1960s – Two Trains Running 1970s – Jitney 1980s – King Hedley II 1990s – Radio Golf A series of 10 of Wilson’s plays, nine of which are set in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, each set in a different decade All designed to represent the African American people’s existence in the United states during the 20th century

Pulitzer Prize Winning Plays Fences Written in 1985 Pulitzer Prize in 1987 The Piano Lesson Written in 1989 Pulitzer Prize in 1990

August Wilson’s Death In August 2005, he was diagnosed with liver cancer and given 3-5 months to live He died on October 2, 2005 at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle

Fences Fences presents a slice-of-life in a black tenement in the Hill Disctrict of Pittsburgh? set in the late 1950s through 1965.

Troy Maxson Maxson is a combination of Mason-Dixon line Troy’s first name suggests the legendary city of Troy He served time in prison for homicide Troy became an excellent baseball player but could never become a “pro” He tends to exaggerate his accomplishments. He grew up with an abusive father

Rose Maxson Rose is committed to family and the church She attempts to intervene between Troy and their son Cory She also attempts to have her husband see his life more realistically since Troy exaggerates his accomplishments

Other Significant Characters Jim Bono— Troy’s best friend, they met in jail, looks up to Troy Lyons— Troy’s first son before he was married to Rose, talented musician Gabriel— Troy’s brother, war veteran with a permanent head injury Cory— teenage son of Troy and Rose, plays football Raynell— Troy’s illegitimate daughter from Alberta