Comparing Langston Hughes's Fences And August Wilson

Early to mid 1900s America was a paradise for native born white men and a nightmare for the average African-American. Segregation between the whites and blacks was a common occurrence during the mid 1900s. Discrimination and prejudice against the African-Americans was practiced by the privileged white Americans. Not only was it the citizens but it was just as common to see racists police officers and other government officials discriminate against African-Americans. Famous writers Langston Hughes and August Wilson portrayed the injustice and inequality they faced being two black men living during the mid 1900s. Hughes and Wilson were both similar writers; Their use of figurative language, related themes, and dialect make the two writers comparable …show more content…
Fences features Troy, a black male trying to provide for his wife and children while as pursuing the “American dream”. The American dream for Troy and many other African-Americans at this time was to have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. As a black male this is especially hard for him and it is shown through Wilson’s writing that it is impossible for him to achieve his goal. Wilson shows the theme of the american dream in his work through Troy as he struggles to fight for equality between him and his white superiors in his line of work, “All I want them to do is change the job description. Give everybody a chance to drive the truck” (1.1.15). For Troy and his co-worker Bono, the chance for them to drive the garbage truck while working instead of hauling trash,the job provided to African Americans, is nearly impossible. Because they happen to be African-American, they are treated differently and unfairly compared to their white co-workers. The theme of the struggling American Dream aspiration appears again when Troy’s son, Cory, is determined to become a professional football player. Cory wants to live the American dream by playing football but it is crushed when his father tells him it will be impossible to do because of the discrimination and tensions there are in sports between white and blacks. “I'm talking about if you could play ball then they ought to have let you play. Don't care what color you were” (1.1.81). Troy is upset at the fact that when he was younger he tried to make it to the professional league but was turned away because of his skin color. Troy, as well as his son, tries to reach the desires held by every American to be successful but are unable to just like many other African-Americans who are judged by race rather than talent. In the