Troy's Legacy

I think Troy’s legacy is what he left behind to his family, which includes their new learnings about life. Throughout the book, Troy set a standard for his sons and the tough love that he gave them helped his children to become stronger human beings. This can be seen at the end of the book when Cory comes back as a Corporal in the United States Marines. He didn’t chase after his dream of becoming a football player but instead, because of his father’s influence, took a different path in life. Also, Cory stood up for himself against Troy towards the end. To Troy, he says “All you ever did was try and make me scared of you. I used to tremble every time you called my name…” (Wilson 86). This shows how much he's changed since the beginning of the book. It also made him realize that he didn't want to be anything like his father, when he says "I don't want to be Troy Maxson. I want to be me" (Wilson 97). With Rose, her relationship with Troy made her a different person. You can see that at the end when she reflects on her life with him. “I married your daddy and settled down to cooking his supper and keeping clean sheets on the bed. When your daddy walked through the house he was so big he filled it up. That was my first mistake” (Wilson 98). Despite the fact that Troy cheated on her, she did what was best for Raynell and raised her as her own. “Like I’d been blessed to relive a part of my life. And if the Lord see fit to keep up my strength… I’m gonna do her just like your daddy did you… I’m gonna give her the best of what’s in me,” she says (Wilson 98).

Happiness

In the book and in Troy’s case, happiness is what would be right for Troy individually. The happiness of Rose and his family is something that he puts aside. To Troy, happiness is something that can be achieved when you have no problems and no worries about life. Troy even says that he has spent so much time taking care of Rose that he forgot about himself. I think people try to be happy, and that it is something that people strive towards. People will do a lot of things just to be happy. Part of that reason can be traced back to how people in our society glamorize happiness. Certain things in society, like the media, try to paint the idea of happiness as something that a person with an ideal life has. They present the idea of happiness as something that we should all have in our lives and that once you have happiness, a lot of other things don’t matter. I think that the way happiness is presented in media is a somewhat accurate portrayal of reality, but at the same time, is something that is glamorized. I think that happiness is something that all people deserve and that people do have the right to be happy. In the book, Troy feels like he deserves happiness, and I think this is similar to how people in society say that they deserve happiness as well. Everyone wants to be happy. Like in the book, I think that many people put their own happiness first before others. 

Prompt 2

As a father and a husband, it’s clear that Troy cares deeply about his family and wants the best for them. It’s expected of him to support his family. He even says that it’s his job and responsibility to take care of his son, Cory, because he’s his flesh and blood, and it has nothing to do with whether or not he likes him. It’s obvious that he works hard to help his family out and even though it’s a lot of work, he doesn’t make excuses or gives up, which shows a lot about his character because he wants to do what’s right by his family. He also tries to tell Cory that he shouldn’t pursue a career as a professional athlete, because he knows from experience that it’s unlikely for him to make it, and that a real job working at the A&P will get him somewhere. He is also still bitter about being a former athlete, and is confident about his abilities, which he boasts about all the time. This influences the way he treats his son. He also teaches both Cory and Lyons about what he believes is important in life and tries to show them how to make their own way in the world. He does this with Lyons by teaching him about the value of money when he comes over to borrow 10 dollars and tells them both how important it is to have a job that can support themselves

August Wilson

August Wilson left behind a legacy with his plays. They were all about the African American experience during the 20^th century and were known as the “Century Cycle” or “Pittsburgh Cycle” which covered every decade of the 20^th century. Through his plays, he was able to communicate a message about race. Many people today can still watch his work. His legacy gives insight into what it was like for African Americans in the United States. It also shows the effect that race has had in the U.S. In the article I read, a teacher got in trouble for using the n-word in his sixth-grade classroom. Although it was taken out of context, he still got in trouble for it. The article talked about how the context in which someone uses the word- their aims, effects, and alternatives- is important. Some rappers have said that they use the word, which has been historically used by whites to degrade and oppress them, and turn it into something beautiful that they can call their own. It can be used as a sign of respect or to show affection toward each other. Also, as a playwright, August Wilson had the power to share his thoughts and opinions on the topic, like many people can do today. People have the ability to express how they feel about race. A person’s power and who they are can have an influence on how a person’s race is used in society. In the same article about the teacher that used the n-word, for example, he said that he used the word to show his students what it would be like to hear the word from someone they respected, hoping they might reconsider using it.