August Wilson, born Frederick August Kittel in 1945, grew up in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which would later become the setting for many of his renowned plays. Despite facing racism and adversity during his high school years, he dropped out at age 15 and continued his education informally, immersing himself in the language and culture of his community. After a brief stint in the U.S. Army, Wilson worked various odd jobs to support himself and discovered his passion for writing. He began writing poetry and became involved in the Black Arts Movement, co-founding the Black Horizon Theater with collaborator Rob Penny in 1968.

In 1978, Wilson moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he focused on playwriting and joined the Penumbra Theatre. His play “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” gained widespread recognition, marking a turning point in his career. He met Lloyd Richards, the African-American artistic director of the Yale Repertory Theatre, who directed Wilson’s first six plays on Broadway. Wilson went on to win two Pulitzer Prizes for his plays “Fences” and “The Piano Lesson.” He continued to receive acclaim for his work and earned numerous accolades throughout his life.

Tragically, in June 2005, at the age of 60, Wilson was diagnosed with liver cancer and passed away on October 2, 2005, in Seattle, Washington. His legacy lives on through the August Wilson Theatre, the August Wilson Center for African American Culture, and the August Wilson Monologue Competition, all dedicated to preserving and celebrating his contributions to American theater.