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The Beginning
August Wilson was born in on April 27, 1945 in Pittsburgh. His mother was named Daisy Wilson and his father was named Frederick Kittel. He was the 4th of six children and his birth name was Frederick August Kittel. -
Parents Divorce
Around the year 1957, Wilson's mother and father divorced. His mother moved the family from Pittsburgh's Hill District [also known somethings as Little Harlem] to Hazelwood [which was a nearby working-class neighborhood]. -
Father that Stepped Up
Wilson's mother got remarried to a man named David Bedford who became an important father figure in Wilson's life. -
Hazelwood
The move to Hazelwood did cause problems for Wilson's family. The neighborhood that he spent most of his childhood in, The Hill District, was predominantly made up of African Americans. Hazelwood was a neighborhood in the suburbs which was predominantly white, so he and his family had to deal with racial threats. -
Dropped out of school
At the age of 15 (10th grade), Wilson dropped out of school after he was falsely accused of plagiarism of an essay on Napoleon Bonaparte. -
His Time In The Army
At the age of 17, Wilson joined the Army though his time there wasn't long. His time in the army only lasted 1 year since he passed a test for Officer Candidate School but he couldn't become an officer due to his age [under 19]. He ended up leaving the army the year after he joined which was 1963. -
Frederick August Kittel become August Wilson
August Wilson legally got his name changed to that in honor to his mother. -
Jitney
August Wilson created the play 'Jitney'. This play was set in the 1970's. -
August Wilson's Mothers Death
August Wilson's mother, Daisy Wilson, died due to lung cancer at the age of 63 -
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
August Wilson created the play 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom'. This play was set in the 1920's. -
Fences
August Wilson's play 'Fences' was performed in the year 1985. The play took place in the 1950's in the city of Pittsburgh. -
Joe Turner's Come and Gone
August Wilson wrote his play 'Joe Turner's Come and Gone'. This play was set in the 1910's -
The Piano Lesson
August Wilson created the play 'The Piano Lesson'. This play was set in the 1930's. -
Two Trains Running
August Wilson created the play 'Two Trains Running'. This play was set in the 1960's. -
Seven Guitars
August Wilson created the play 'Seven Guitars'. This play was set in the 1940's. -
Wilson Gets His High School Diploma
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh granted Wilson an honorary high school diploma, and it was its [the library's] first ever high school diploma that was given. -
King Hedley II
August Wilson created the play 'King Hedley II'. This play was set in the 1980's. -
Gem of the Ocean
August Wilson created his play Gem of the Ocean. This play was set in the 1900's. -
Radio Golf
August Wilson created the play 'Radio Golf'. -
Death
August Wilson died at the age of 60 on October 2nd in Seattle. He was buried at the Greenwood Cemetery in Pittsburgh on October 8th.