Marker memorializes playwright Wilson
Ramit Plushnick-Masti
PITTSBURGH — Friends, relatives and local officials stood last Thursday before the dilapidated building where August Wilson was born to memorialize the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright who used his neighborhood to chronicle the black experience in 20th century America.
The state dedicated a blue and gold historical marker at 1727 Bedford Ave. — the home where Wilson grew up with his brothers and sisters — to the applause of family, friends and residents of the Hill District neighborhood.
Wilson died of liver cancer on Oct. 2, 2005, at the age of 60. His landmark dramas, such as “Fences” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” were part of an astounding 10-play cycle, nine of them set in Pittsburgh. He won two Pulitzers — for “Fences” and “The Piano Lesson” — a best play Tony award for “Fences” and best play Tony nominations for six of his other plays. Full story
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Book on Brown bros. and slavery scores $50K prize
Banner Staff
Award-winning journalist and independent scholar Charles Rappleye has received the third annual $50,000 George Washington Book Prize, which honors the most important new book about America’s founding era for his book “Sons of Providence: The Brown Brothers, The Slave Trade, and The American Revolution.”
Published in 2006 by Simon and Schuster, Rappleye’s book tells the story of John and Moses Brown, brothers who were partners in business, politics and the founding of Brown University, yet who passionately opposed one another on one of the most divisive issues of the day — the slave trade.
“I wanted to do justice to a wonderful story and refresh our understanding of the dilemma posed by slavery in the early days of the Republic,” said Rappleye. “It’s very gratifying to think that, on the strength of this award, that story might reach a wider audience.” Full story
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