Skip to main content Skip to footer site map

August Wilson’s Youth

Before you watch videos on this webpage, please take a moment to review and respond below:

By clicking “Accept,” you agree that WNET and its affiliates (“The WNET Group”) can share your video viewing activity with third parties as set out in our Privacy Policy in order to facilitate use of our sites and enrich your online experience. Your consent to such sharing is valid for two years or until you withdraw your consent by removing the associated browser cookie. To learn more about how we use cookies on our sites and how to revise your cookie settings, please visit the “Cookies” section of our Privacy Policy. If you click “Decline,” we will not share your individual viewing activity, but may still share aggregated and/or anonymized viewing activity in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

SHARE

August Wilson and two of his sisters describe his early school days, when he showed an early love of language and learning, and suffered daily insults for being black at a primarily white school. Wilson describes an instance when he timed his response to a bully to the words of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Features

August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand -- The Essential Ingredients for an August Wilson Play CLIP: 0:35
The Essential Ingredients for an August Wilson Play
Ruben Santiago-Hudson shares the essential ingredients for any August Wilson play.
August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand -- August Wilson's Timeless Work CLIP: 0:35
August Wilson's Timeless Work
Ruben Santiago-Hudson shares why Wilson's work is so timeless and universal.
August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand -- August Wilson and African American Culture CLIP: 0:20
August Wilson and African American Culture
Ruben Santiago-Hudson describe August Wilson's work for the African American community
Phylicia Rashad Gem of the Ocean CLIP: 2:23
Phylicia Rashad Performs "Gem of the Ocean" Aunt Ester Scene
Rashad performs a scene from August Wilson's play "Gem of the Ocean," as Aunt Ester.
August Wilson
Classroom Resources: August Wilson
Educator resources from PBSLearningMedia
August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand -- Costume Designs for August Wilson Plays CLIP: 3:15
Costume Designs for August Wilson Plays
Constanza Romero shares how she designed costumes for August Wilson's plays.
August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand -- August Wilson on the Dialogue in His Plays CLIP: 1:38
August Wilson on the Dialogue in His Plays
August Wilson describes how dialogue comes to him and guides his character development.
August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand -- Filmmaker Sam Pollard on His August Wilson Documentary CLIP: 2:29
Filmmaker Sam Pollard on His August Wilson Documentary
Director Sam Pollard talks about Wilson's relevance, interviewing actors and more.
August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand -- Actor James Earl Jones on August Wilson's Plays
Actor James Earl Jones on August Wilson's Plays
James Earl Jones won a Tony Award in 1987 for his role in August Wilson's "Fences."
Music in August Wilson’s Work
Learn how Kathryn Bostic scored August Wilson's plays and the film August Wilson: The Ground...
August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand -- August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand, Panel Discussion CLIP: 33:31
August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand, Panel Discussion
Director Sam Pollard moderates a panel at Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand -- August Wilson in Seattle CLIP: 1:57
August Wilson in Seattle
August Wilson moved to Seattle in 1990 and lived there for the rest of his life.
Lloyd Richards and August Wilson
August Wilson’s 10-play cycle: scenes and synopses
August Wilson
August Wilson biography and timeline
Playwright August Wilson (1945 - 2005) rose from humble beginnings to become a celebrated Broadway...
August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand PREVIEW: 2:41
August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand
The first documentary about the Tony- and Pulitzer-winning playwright August Wilson.