Early Life
Where is August Wilson
from?
A) Detroit
B) Chicago
C) Pittsburgh
D) Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Name 3 characteristics of
the Blues
Blues singers are expressing feelings rather than telling stories.
The emotion expressed is generally one of sadness or melancholy, often due to problems in love.
“Feeling blue” is expressed in songs whose verses talk of injustice or express longing for a better life and lost loves, jobs, and money.
Where did August
normally hang out as a
young writer? Why?
Diners
Libraries
Music Shops
Describe Jackie Robison
with 5 facts
First Black Baseball player to go into Major Leagues (Broke the color barrier)
Born in 1919 from Cairo, Georgia
Played for Brooklyn Dodgers
First athlete to win Varsity in 4 different college sports
Enlisted in the US Army
Won Rookie of the Year
Won MVP
What was the incident
that caused August
Wilson to leave school?
A) He was expelled
for getting into a
fight with a senior
B) August cheated on
his English state
exams
C) Wilson’s teacher
accused him of
plagiarism and he
denied it, so he left.
D) August Wilson
wanted to go to
Forsyth Satellite
Academy.
C) Wilson’s teacher
accused him of
plagiarism and he
denied it, so he left.
How can “Legacy” by Amiri
Baraka relate to the topics
and ideas that Wilson
might’ve written about?
Wilson was drawn to Baraka’s political poetry and plays. Legacy represented a lot of the characteristics of Blues - such as the complexities of being stricken with poverty, hopelessness, and the living conditions of the south.
Describe Wilson’s
writing process.
Would write notes on pieces of paper
Hang around his own community and locals to get inspiration for dialogue and characterization
would use instruments as influence when creating characters
What happened to the
Negro Baseball Leagues?
Dissolved after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier. More Black players went into Major Leagues
Which of the following
did August experience
the most while growing
up?
A) Bullying and
racism
B) Winning awards
for his writing
skills
C) Working long
hours in the
Pittsburgh
factories
D) Constantly
moving from
town to town
Bullying and
racism
How can “Harlem” by
Langston Hughes relate to
the topics and ideas that
Wilson might’ve written
about?
"Harlem" speaks on what can happen if a dream is put on hold for too long. It can crush the person and create a sense of hopelessness. The poem was meant to describe the dreams of many African-Americans in the 1950s (the same time period as when Fences takes place.)
How was Branch Rickey
related to Jackie
Robinson?
Was Robinson's manager and told him he wanted "a player with the guts not to fight back". He wanted a hero to represent integration
Name a Blues Singer we
listened to in class
B.B. King
Bessie Smith
Muddy Waters