Research Paper on Fences by August Wilson

Introduction

In any progressive society, some individuals regarded as the affluent tend to discriminate the poor to take advantage of the existing political, economic, or social gains. A typical example of this scenario is evidenced in America's 1950-1965 racial injustices that the whites subjected blacks too. However, in Wilson's play, Fences, the author uses baseball to showcase racial segregation amidst economic bottlenecks in America shortly after the Great Depression. Therefore, the African Americans lack the opportunity to participate in the baseball teams, specifically in the White Leagues is suppression of economic freedom that guaranteed the supremacy of the whites over the former. Precisely, this paper presents assertions to depict how racism was rampant in America between the 1950s and 1965 as supported by the various quotes from Fences.

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Central Theme, Conflict, or Concern in Fences

This research paper will explore racism as the central conflict in August Wilson's play, Fences. It is evident that racism exists everywhere around us. Broadly, racism involves the characterization of people based on their ethnic backgrounds, and some people use it to inflict either physical, mental or verbal insults on their fellows. The play takes place in a period between 1950 and 1965, a time during which the fight against racism seemed fruitful. Troy Maxson is the major protagonist that Wilson uses to depict an introspective view of the world with regards to racism, which thwarts the character's dreams. Troy strives to make ends meet in a white-dominated society that shatters opportunities that manifest themselves in both the job environment and sports.

Specific Context

The conflict concerning racism manifests itself in the story when the whites thwart Troy's dream to become a professional baseball player. He had been a great baseball player since childhood although his desire to pursue his talent was short-lived due to the preexisting color barrier in the major leagues. Despite his passion, he is aware of the fences in real life that confine from his dreams. Other than the Fences, Troy's guilt equally restrains his future ambitions, especially due to infidelities with another woman. Therefore, the ill-mannered intentions of the white man coerce Troy to believe in self-created illusions. This implies that the baseball player is used here figuratively to depict both social and economic disparity between African Americans and Whites. Ideally, racial segregation in society is quite influential in the play as regards the manner in which it coaxes Troy to arrive at biased and judgmental decisions that directly affect him and his family. Generally speaking, the play portrays how racial segregation interferes with both mental and physical lives of the protagonist and his family.

Quotes

Quote 1: "The racism we faced while I was in the Negro Leagues was one of the things that pushed me out of baseball...I was treated like a second-class citizen in my own country by people who knew they hated me before I could even say 'Hello'" (Koprince 350).

This quote further puts racism in context, by figuratively depicting how most black players faced discrimination in hotels that strictly catered to Whites. This means that most of the black players felt relieved when they traveled outside the US borders and they had freedom and solace in the "land of the free."

(i). how it supports my point

In the play, Wilson uses Troy's experiences from the Negro Leagues to depict that the attainment of America's dream remained but an illusion that people of African descent could never achieve (Koprince 350).

(ii). what is special about the language

It is interesting to note that Troy first gained expertise in playing baseball whilst in prison. This is a symbolic representation of the fact that whenever a black man tried to contradict the whites to shape his future, he could be jailed automatically. A typical example manifests itself in Wilson's fictive world of 1957 when the protagonist complained that even black garbage workers should be permitted to drive the trucks, just like white men (Letzler 305). The whites refuted such allegations with disdain, and this provides a clear view of how illusionary America's Edenic promise had become amidst racism that stains her national pastime.

Quote 2: "The colored guy got to be twice as good before he gets on the team...They got colored on the team and didn't use them. Same as not having them" (Letzler 302).

Troy laments that the root cause of economic failure in America is segregation, a racial vice that makes the underperforming white stars superior to the potential black man who can drive the country forward.

(i). how it supports my point

This concept supports the point that discrimination only yields poor results for the whole nation. When Troy emphasizes that the teams needed premier hitters, he meant that the country should reverse the norm and include everyone in decision-making regardless of racial backgrounds. By so doing, America may prosper and achieve her dream due to internal diplomatic ties that will prevail among various races.

(ii). what is special about the language

The literature claims that America is just battering average since instead of attaining excellent results; she is still underperforming with inadequacies that originate from racial discrimination. The lack of inclusion and universal access to equal rights regardless of skin color only takes the country backward.

(iii). How it is similar to quote 1

The issue of economic failure in quote two is similar to the concept of "white-only restaurants." And since some blacks were prohibited from entering some hotels, it is obvious that cash flow was not successful, forcing blacks to struggle with death continuously.

Quote 3: "... I wrestled with Death for three days and three nights, and I'm standing here to tell you about it" (Wilson 1037).

In this last quote, Troy presents his ideas about how white supremacy discriminates the other races in terms of access to financial resources to enhance individual wellbeing. Therefore, this is what is referred to as redlining black America since America is rooted in whiteness to depict an economic construct that controls trade, property ownership, and laws guiding market forces (Harriot).

(i). how it supports my point

The concept of battling with death explains the economic oppression that blacks underwent during the period of the setting of the play. For instance, death appears as owing money to a "furniture company," which is typically the white man. This symbolizes racism and how the lives of blacks got indebted to forces that are somewhat mysterious since the whites regard the dollar a very serious issue than even monopoly power.

(ii). what is special about the language

Death conveys special messages regarding how the sanctioned policies resulted in delusion amidst the citizens' efforts to lift the country out of the previous Great Depression. Therefore, the policies only favored the whites, and this resulted in the rise of the middle class while most blacks remained poor. This was possible through economic programs like the Social Security Administration that greatly favored whites in employment and access to loans and mortgage financing (Harriot).

(iii). How it is similar to quote 2 and 3

The last quote shows a great similarity to both the first and the second in the manner in which they all express economic policies that subject one race to poverty as the other attains global superiority. Therefore, Wilson generally figures out the idea of blacks will still continue to struggle with death if no reforms are made to promote inclusivity and suppress racism in America.

They Say/I Say

Susan Koprince continuously refers to the baseball to metaphorically depict American dream regarding her hope and success. She argues that Wilson only confuses an irrational reader with Fences by introducing the history and mythology of baseball, which censures the common belief of the American dream. Therefore, Koprince believes that this is the main reason for the play's setting in 1957, just before the emergence of the American civil rights movement (Koprince 349). Ideally, during this period, racism was still rampant in America.

In the discussion of Fences, one topic of interest has been comprehensively explored, that is, racism. For example, Koprince further asserts that Troy is a representation of the African Americans, who depict the historical context of racial discriminations that Negro Leagues had been subjected to. The protagonist's character traits as depicted in the play clearly represent the emotional feelings of black players, who were deprived of the opportunity to participate in the major-league level contests. On the other hand, Wilson believes that Troy's core intention was to make readers aware that baseball is not just a grandiose sport of comrade and sportsmanship and the African Americans rarely had the chance to play.

In my own view, Koprince sheds light on what the Negro Leagues entailed, citing that it was quite uncomfortable as compared to the White League. This is because players had to barnstorm across the American nation as they ride broken down automobiles and playing the full game daily. Despite their efforts, they faced intense racism in various cities where they occasionally held the matches. She then expounds Troy's contempt for Robison, asserting just like the other players, he got a single opportunity to play for Dodgers without necessarily earning it.

Works Cited

Harriot, Michael. "Redlining: The Origin Story of Institutional Racism." The Root, 25 April 2019. https://www.theroot.com/redlining-the-origin-story-of-institutional-racism-1834308539

Koprince, Susan. "Baseball as History and Myth in August Wilson's Fences." African American Review, vol. 40, no. 2, 2006, pp. 349-358.

Letzler, David. "Walking around the Fences: Troy Maxon and the Ideology of 'Going Down Swinging.'" African American Review, vol. 47, no. 2/3, 2014, pp. 301-312.

Wilson, August. Fences. Literature: A Portable Anthology, edited by Janet E. Gardner et al., 4th ed., Bedford/St. Martin's, 2017, 1030-1088.