Affected Quote by August Wilson
“I think the play offers (white Americans) a different way to look at black Americans For instance, in 'Fences' they see a garbageman, a person they don't really look at, although they see a garbageman every day. By looking at Troy's life, white people find out that the content of this black garbageman's life is affected by the same things- love, honor, beauty, betrayal, duty. Recognizing that these things are as much part of his life as theirs can affect how they think about and deal with black people in their lives.”
About This Quote
Source Play: Fences, 1985
White audiences can see black lives reflected in ordinary roles, revealing shared humanity and common emotions.
In simple terms: Seeing black experiences in everyday jobs shows common humanity.
Key Takeaway
Recognize shared human experiences across races.
Themes
race
empathy
representation
humanity
Mood
thoughtful
reflective
Type
cultural
educational
When to use this quote
- Theatre discussion
- diversity training
- community dialogue
Key Concepts
social identity
cultural perception
narrative empathy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does portraying a garbageman change racial perceptions?
- What other ordinary roles could bridge understanding?
A Different Perspective
Might simplify complex racial issues to a single narrative.
![“I read that Hollywood wanted to film Fences years ago with a white director, but [August] Wilson refused. He thought that the director needed to have lived the culture of black Americans.” quote by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cce/kareem-abdul-jabbar-1909_august_i-read-that-hollywood-wanted-to-film-fen_2057534.jpg)
![“Troy: "Then when I saw that gal [Alberta]...she firmed up my backbone. And I got to thinking that if I tried...I just might be able to steal second.” quote by August Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84c/august-wilson-3646_august-wilson_troy-then-when-i-saw-that-gal-alberta-sh_2493056.jpg)
