Background of August Wilson Playwright August Wilson was born Frederick August Kittel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on April 27, 1945. His mother, Daisy Wilson, was of African-American heritage. His father was a German immigrant named Frederick Kittel. After moving from the Bedford area of Pittsburgh to a mostly white suburb, Wilson faced relentless bigotry from his classmates at Central Catholic High School. At age 15, Wilson decided to drop out of school. He received his education at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh as well as on the streets of Pittsburgh. Wilson started his writing career as a poet but was attracted to the theater. With his friend, Rob Penny, he founded Black Horizons Theater Company in Pittsburgh. August Wilson is most famous for his ten-play cycle that chronicles the African-American experience in the 20th century. This set of plays is sometimes called the Pittsburgh Cycle, since all but one (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom) is set in Wilson's hometown. The cycle is widely considered to be one of the most significant contributions to American drama. Its plays have won just about every award a play can win, including eight New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards, a Tony award for Best Play, and two Pulitzer Prizes. August Wilson died in 2005

Background of the play Fences This play won Wilson his first Pulitzer Prize. Some say that the play’s main character, Troy Maxson, was based on Wilson’s stepfather, David Bedford. Some also say that the character Rose might have been based on Wilson’s mother. The play focuses on the African-American experience. It portrays a black family struggling to get by in 1950s Pittsburgh. However, the central conflict resonates with many: Many know what it's like to live in the shadow of our parents. Troy Maxson, the main character of Fences, struggles to be a father with nothing to go on but the harsh example set by his own father. We also see Troy's son, Cory, coming of age under Troy's reign. The play shows that no matter how old you are, you're constantly measuring yourself against the example set by your parents. Even if your family was nothing like the Maxsons, you can probably connect with this basic human struggle.

Ideas to consider: What do you know about BASEBALL? It has been an American pastime since the late 1800s Black Americans were barred from playing baseball until 1947 Jackie Robinson was the first black man to be allowed to play major league baseball Prior to this, there was an active and vibrant league for African Americans called the “Negro National League”. Consider the basic rules and terminology used in a typical game of baseball. (batter, pitcher, infield, outfield, three strikes and you’re out…) What are the connotations of FENCES? Consider locations: Where do we find them? Consider function: What purposes do they serve? Consider appearance: What forms do they take? Colors? Styles? Materials? What to look for? Reference to fences… References to baseball (How and when are they used?) The setting (what does that tell us about the socioeconomic status of the characters? Consider time the time period of the 1950s and the city of Pittsburgh) NOTE: Many blacks came north with hopes of finding jobs in the factories in the industrial cities like Pittsburgh. What are the characters like? In drama, we must base all our judgments on what the characters say and what is said to them. “Listen” carefully.

What to do while reading: Start a character list. Write your initial impressions of the characters presented in this scene using textual support. Start a bullet point list that traces the events of the plot. (Make note of major events that take place.) What information does the author gives us at this point of the play that reveals character, provides some hint of something that might develop as the play continues, and reveals how much of a role setting plays on the characters and plot? Pay attention to patterns as they will be clues to THEME.