News

This Day in History: August Wilson Wins Pulitzer Prize for “The Piano Lesson” in 1990

Clay Cane
August 12, 2024

Reading Time: 2 minutes

On August 12, 1990, American playwright August Wilson won the Pulitzer Prize for “The Piano Lesson,” one of the ten plays in his acclaimed “Pittsburgh Cycle” that explores the Black experience in the 20th century.

Singer Harry Belafonte, left, embraces playwright August Wilson backstage after the opening night performance of Wilson’s play, “The Piano Lesson,” at the Walter Kerr Theatre in New York, Monday night, April 16, 1990. Wilson won his second Pulitzer prize for writing the play. (AP Photo/Mario Suriani)

Set in 1936 Pittsburgh, the play delves into themes of family, legacy, and self-worth through the story of a brother and sister grappling with the inheritance of an ornate piano.

Playwright August Wilson, the Pulitzer Prize winning author of “Fences”, is shown in San Francisco in this file photo from 1989. (AP Photo/stf Sal Veder)

“The Piano Lesson” also earned Wilson the Drama Desk Award and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award.

Wilson, who had previously won a Pulitzer for “Fences” in 1987, passed away in 2005 at age 60.

This image released by the United States Postal Service of the 44th Black Heritage Stamp in the series honors legendary playwright August Wilson. One of America’s greatest playwrights, Wilson is hailed as a trailblazer for helping to bring nonmusical African American drama to the forefront of American theater. The stamp will be dedicated Jan. 28, 2021. (USPS via AP)

Click play to listen to the AURN News report from Clay Cane. Follow @claycane & @aurnonline for more.

Clay Cane is an award-winning journalist, writer, radio host, and political commentator. A graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in African-American Studies, his work on race, culture, and politics have appeared in national publications, including the Washington Post, CNN, and The Grio. Clay is a regular political commentator on MSNBC. Twitter: @claycane