Background on August Wilson and Fences

August Wilson is an important American writer. According to the Kennedy Center,

“Wilson, the author of an impressive ‘cycle’ of 10 plays exploring a decade of African American history, was born in 1945 in the ethnically-diverse Hill District neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Originally named Frederick August Kittel after his white immigrant father, Wilson officially adopted his African American mother’s last name and culture. ‘I grew up in my mother’s household in a[n environment] which was black,’ he said. His identification with a strong black tradition was strengthened as he listened to stories being told among the members of his community; stories of a people with a ‘rich’ yet sorrowful history trying to carve out a meaningful life for themselves in the face of centuries of persecution” (“August Wilson + Fences
Meet the master artist through one of his most important works”)

This video of a lecture given by Dr. Menson-Furr, an Associate Professor of African American Literature and Director of the African and African American Studies Program at the University of Memphis; “gives an insightful lecture on August Wilson’s work Fences at Germantown High School Library” (“August Wilson Fences Lecture”)

Background materials:

• LINK (Background on August Wilson’s body of work): https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-resources/media-and-interactives/media/theater/august-wilson–fences/
• LINK (Article about August Wilson, for students at Frederick Community College): https://ezproxy.frederick.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xna&AN=22091&site=ehost-live
• LINK (Article about August Wilson, for students at Frederick Community College): https://ezproxy.frederick.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xna&AN=1527127&site=ehost-live

LICENSES AND ATTRIBUTIONS
CC LICENSED CONTENT, ORIGINAL and REMIXED

• “August Wilson + Fences: Meet the master artist through one of his most important works.” Provided by The Kennedy Center. Located at: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/literary_theory_and_schools_of_criticism/gender_studies_and_queer_theory.html. License: fair use quote
• “August Wilson Fences Lecture.” Provided by: GHS-TV – Germantown High School Television. Located at: https://youtu.be/8A54PyS6u_s. License: fair use quote
• Composition and Literature (2021)-License: CC BY: Attribution