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Born Fredrick August Kittel (named after his father) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Daisy Wilson and Fredrick August Kittel. He was the fourth of six kids and the oldest son. His mother was an African American domestic worker and his father was a German immigrant. His father wasn't around much during his childhood so it seemed like his mother was a single mother.
https://www.centertheatregroup.org/programs/students/learn-about-theatre/august-wilson-monologue-competition/august-wilson-biography/ -
Wilson's mother remarries and the family moves to a suburb of Pittsburgh. Leaving behind Hill Distract of Pittsburgh, a lively poor neighborhood, were Wilson grow up and later use it as the setting for most of his plays. -
August was attending school in the era of Jim Crow Laws. He was attending a mainly white, private central catholic high school were he was a victim of consent race-bullying and abuse.
https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/august-wilson-the-ground-on-which-i-stand-august-wilsonbiography-and-career-timeline/3683/ -
Wilson will have to transfer to 3 schools in 1 year due to bullying, accusations, and not being challenged academically.
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At the age of 15, Wilson dropped out of Gladstone High school after a teacher accused him of plagiarism on a paper. He then pursued an independent education.
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In the late 1960, Wilson embraced the black arts movement, later resulting in his co-founding in Black Horizon Theatre in 1968. -
Wilson enlisted in the U.S army for three years but left after one year of service. -
After Wilson's father dies in 1965, Wilson would change his name to August Wilson, but his family would still call him Freddy.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/15/travel/august-wilsons-pittsburgh.html -
Wilson was the cofounder of Black Horizons Theater Company in Pittsburgh. It was a community-based, Black Nationalist theatre company. This was Wilson first experience with theatre and learned to direct plays through it.
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Wilson married Brenda Burton, later divorcing in 1972. -
Wilson and his first wife, Brenda welcomed their daughter, Sakina -
Wilson would start to convert some of his poems into plays. Two of being "Black blart" and "The Sacred Hills''. Which the productions turned out to be successful.
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Wilson mentioned that his career begin with his work on Jitney (published 1983) which focused on cab drivers in the 1970s.
https://www.neh.gov/about/awards/national-humanities-medals/august-wilson -
Wilson would go on to marrying Judy Oliver and divorcing in 1990.
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Wilson won the Pulitzer prize for his play fences that was performed in 1985 and published 1987. The play explores the themes of the ever-evolving Black experience and race relations in America.
https://www.biography.com/writer/august-wilson -
The piano lesson (published in 1990) earned Wilson his second Pulitzer prize. The piano lesson focuses on a brother and sister who have different ideas on what to do with the piano.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Piano-Lesson -
Wilson moved to Seattle Washington where he meet his third wife, Costanza Romero, who was a costume designer. -
Wilson and his third wife Constanza welcomed their daughter Azula.
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Wilson wanted to strengthen and promote African American Culture. He convened a conference on African American Theatre at Dartmouth and in result, the African Grove Institute Of Arts was born as a home for African American Theatre. August served as chairman of its board of directors.
https://www.neh.gov/about/awards/national-humanities-medals/august-wilson -
Wilson would be diagnosed with liver cancer. -
Wilson was 60 years old when he died of liver cancer.