August Wilson

August Wilson. . , August Wilson (1945-2005) was a prolific playwright born in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, just a short walk from this park. His renowned series of 10 plays, The American Century Cycle, chronicles the African American experience throughout each decade of the 20th century. Wilson's plays expressed the strength of the culture of the Hill District as its citizens struggled against poverty, racism, and oppression. To this day, audiences of all backgrounds are still entertained by his humorous, poetic, and authentic representation of the social fabric in the Hill District., Wilson was the first African American to have two plays on Broadway at the same time. He received numerous awards, among them: two Pulitzer Prizes, a Tony Award, eight New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, and three American Theater Critics Association Awards. In 1999, Wilson was awarded the National Humanities Medal by the President of the United States. Wilson was the first African American to have a Broadway theater named after him, as well as a cultural center in downtown Pittsburgh., August Wilson's legacy is commemorated by these quotes from each play of the American Century Cycle. His portrait and quotes are reprinted by permission of the Estate of August Wilson.