August Wilson Black Power Movement

The marriage between Troy and Rose was shown differently in Denzel Washington’s production of Fences and the 1985 original play by American playwright, August Wilson. August Wilson’s play centered around the Maxson family, the life of Troy Maxson and the decisions he made that affected his marriage and family. The Maxson marriage was depicted on the 1950’s era whereby a woman’s place was in the home. While Rose was home tending to the house and children, Troy provided for the family. Throughout the movie and play, we see how Troy’s actions and decisions affected the relationships with his friends and family. The primary relationship highlighted in both the play and movie is that of Troy and Rose and how it completely disintegrates towards the end of the story. In August Wilson’s portrayal of Rose, she is described as one that has been challenged throughout her life, but still manages to be a strong centerpiece for the family. Denzel Washington’s movie conveys the

Fences written by August Wilson is an award winning drama that depicts an African-America family who lives in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania during the 1950’s. During this time, the Mason’s reveal the struggles working as a garbage man, providing for his family and excepting life as is. The end of segregation began, more opportunities for African American people were accessible. Troy, who’s the father the Cory and husband of Rose has shoes fill as a working African America man. He is the family breadwinner and plays the dominant role in the play. Troy’s childhood was pretty rough growing up on a farm of 11 children. Overtime, he realizes the change of society. He builds a friendship fellow sanitation worker, Jim Bono while in the penitentiary. Troy planned to build a fence around his house to control the number of people on his property. The fence also plays a symbolic role throughout the drama. These motives and characteristics control is what makes Troy the friend, father, worker, and husband he is today.

The play, “Fences” by August Wilson describes the life of an African-American family that is por. Troy Maxson, the father of the family, was a baseball player in the

Lives are lead with anxiety over certain issues and with apprehension towards certain events. This play, Fences written by the playwright August Wilson deals with the progression of a family through the struggles of oppression and the inability to obtain the American Dream. The characters in the play develop throughout the story and can be viewed or interpreted in many different ways, but one man remains constant during the play and that is Troy. Due to certain events that transpired as he was growing up, Troy is shaped into a very stubborn yet proud man. To be a man who was black and proud ran the risk of getting destroyed, both physically and mentally. The world of the 1950s and 60s was rapidly changing and

After viewing both scenes performed by James Earl and Denzel Washington from August Wilson’s Fences, I believe that both performances were exceptional. For me, both performances triggered an emotional response while I was watching. During James Earl’s performance, I felt more emotional and I personally felt regret for his son asking his father if he liked him or not. I felt those emotions because of James Earl’s acting techniques. His acting techniques that impacted me were: facial expressions, posture, speech, and heavy breathing. James Earl also had a distinct look in his eye while he was giving his lecture that made me feel as if I was in his son’s place and I was being lectured. Also, James Earl expressed his anger through heavy breathing extremely well. Denzel Washington also sparked emotion through his facial expressions, posture, and speech. However, Denzel Washington did not portray the same look of anger in his face and eyes that James Earl did. Denzel Washington used less of his posture and facial expressions, but more of his voice to spark emotion. Denzel Washington looked more calm than James Earl, however, through his speech the audience could understand the severity of his lecture.

August Wilson’s Fences depicts life in the 1950s for a typical African American family. The play touches upon racism, shifting family dynamics, and the politics of war. While racism plays an important and vital role in the play, instead of lamenting the issue, Wilson uses the characters as a weapon against the rampant racism of the time. In the same fashion, the relationship between Troy, Rose, and Cory demonstrates the shifting cultural and family dynamics of the decade. Likewise, Wilson’s depiction of Gabriel as a wounded veteran who is not fully supported by the government that sent him off to war offers an enlightening commentary on the politics of the era. Wilson uses the

The emergence of the Black Power movements in the early 1960s coincided with the peak of success for the Civil Rights campaign - the legislation of 1964-65. Thereafter, the focus of campaigns had to move the practical issues related to social and economic deprivation, and the ability to exercise the rights that had been gained. By 1968 little had changed, and it is therefore easy to claim that Black Power movements achieved nothing, and in fact had a negative impact on black Americans.

Fences written by August Wilson and Death of a Salesman written by Arthur Miller are two plays that could be considered very different in terms of their plot. The plots of both plays contain two very different cultural backgrounds which affects each protagonist differently. If the reader or audience looks past the plot into the theme and symbolisms used they can see that the plays are more similar than they are different. In spite of the different cultural backgrounds of each protagonist they both are tragic heroes that are trying to achieve the American dream as it relates to each character; both of which fail in drastic yet similar ways. The American dream has always been an important factor in many American’s lives as it is to Troy

Fences can be viewed as a family play, it can also be viewed as a work specifically of the black man's place, or plight, in a predominantly white world. Either way, it has a very valuable message. It is a true art to be able to touch on so many aspects of life in a work, aspects that may be viewed differently by different people.. Wilson's work, and the character of Troy Maxson, makes me question many things, among them myself, as well as his intended message. This is why I am so in awe of Fences, and of Wilson's talent. This is why I am writing my paper on Fences.

Stokely Carmichael gave his most famous speech on the campus of the University of California at Berkeley in 1966. His speech, “Black Power,” addresses the issue of black racism in America and gives strategies for advancing black civil rights. His use of ethos, logos, and pathos is successful in getting the audience to engage and connect with his speech.

August Wilson’s plays relate directly to his African heritage, and were and are a part of his success. His expression of the struggles of the blacks

wrote the play Fences about his life: the heartbreaking reality of racism in his own life and the

protagonist and main character of the play, Troy Maxson. Troy is a 53 year old man who

August Wilson discussed the struggles African Americans went through as slaves, how they have to stay strong to survive and how the history relates to today’s society and in theatre. He discussed on the grounds he stand meaning of what he respect in the growing life of theatre. The infamous ancient Greek dramatists who are Sophocles, Euripides and Aeschylus. William Shakespeare, Shaw and Ibsen, the Americans dramatists were Eugene O’Neill, Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams. Another group of individuals who pave the way were the black theatre writers such as Nat Turner, Denmark Vesey, Marcus Garvey and Elijah Muhammad. He discussed that the “black theatre” was growing into two different black arts that was developed in the past and that it is still considered the same in today’s society such as theatre that entertain white society and art that uplift the black culture in strategies that deliver survival and prosperity. Black theatre is the best theatre; Wilson considered it vibrant and vital. Wilson wants black theatre to be funded and recognized. “Black theatre doesn’t share in the economic that would allow it to support its

In this essay I will compare and contrast Fences and "The Piano Lesson", written by August Wilson. Wilson uses his hometown life experiences to portray both plays, these stories take place in Pittsburgh, and they also fall under Wilson Pittsburgh cycle. The cycle is also known as his ‘Century Cycle’. They explore African-American struggle with Racism, Poverty, Discrimination, Love and Family.