August Wilson's Legacy

August Wilson was an African American playwright who created a series of 10 plays. “I read that [Moss Hart’s autobiography, Act One] when I was 20 and didn’t know anything about theater” (Kachka). His love for plays and theater was always there but at around the age of 20 he started actually writing some of his own work. He took notes of the people around him in his daily life, anything from people at the local bars to random people on the streets. Then when he would get home from doing his “research”, he would sit and write for hours. Wilson’s plays were very influential in fact that they were real, this is something that not many people had done in the past so it was definitely a change to the theatrical community. Because of how different these plays were and how the reality affected people, Wilson obviously made a lasting impression on the community.

As individuals and the public, every one apart of that said community leaves behind a legacy, whether it is good or bad. Wilson’s legacy of showing the reality of African Americans hardship and reality in society helped shape the next generation of playwrights and the theater goers. As an appreciation and acknowledgment of August’s work, a theater in New York City where he grew up, was renamed after him in 2005. Wilson was able to pass on his legacy by doing something that would forever change the theatrical community forever. I don’t think people understand that a legacy can leave behind a certain reputation. Whether a legacy is positive or negative it can affect the future and reflect on the past, leaving a legacy is a very important part of living. Leave a legacy you can be proud of.