How Does August Wilson's Fences Affect The Treatment Of African-Americans?

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In the 1983, Pulitzer prize winning, playwright, August Wilson wrote “Fences”. Wilson himself, grew up in a poor household with many brothers and sisters with the conflict of his abusive stepfather and little to no relationship with his biological father. Wilson eventually dropped out of school in ninth grade due to racial abuse by other students. In the biographical article about August Wilson, written by Christine Ayorinde, she writes that these key events in Wilsons early age “would later provide inspiration for the characters and dialogue in his plays” (Ayorinde). After writing and putting on the play, “Fences,” there became an intense stir among society. Though segregation had long past, many still had salted wounds at the thought of the sensitive segregated time period. In 1987 when journalist, Brent Staples, from The New York Times saw the play he spoke of how there were many different types of audiences all in the same room. During the play, he found himself relating to the interaction of characters and key events during the play, writing that, “this is more than a play” (Staples). “Fences” was more than just a play to the people, it was something that many could relate to. As a consequence of societal issues “Fences” expresses the result of destructed relationships in an African-American household during the 1950s.

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