August Wilson's American Century Cycle
Omiwerx in partnership with The Village Initiative for Equity in Education, is offering a Freedom School series on acclaimed playwright August Wilson’ and his American Century Cycle, a groundbreaking collection of ten plays that chronicles experiences of Black Americans in the 20th century. Through richly drawn characters, poetic language, and deeply rooted historical contexts, Wilson’s work serves as a powerful lens for examining Black identity, resistance, and resilience in the face of systemic oppression.
Wilson’s American Century Cycle serves as “a series of passages” into both fictional and historical elements of Pittsburgh’s Hill District, a neighborhood that deeply influenced his political vision, spiritual ethos, and theatrical style. Students will examine how Wilson’s place-based storytelling addresses broader themes relevant to Black communities broadly and those closer to home. The course will also consider how the cycle acts as both a living archive of Black history and a repository of African diasporic cultural traditions. Rather than following the plays in chronological order, students will engage with them in the sequence in which they were written. This approach highlights Wilson’s concentric dramaturgy—one that is profoundly sankofic, redressive, and redemptive. Wilson’s century-spanning body of work not only reimagines Black resilience in the face of 20th century threats but also invites students to reflect on how they might responsibly confront the injustices of our own time.
This Freedom School series, devised and facilitated by Prof. Omiyẹmi (Artisia) Green, is grounded in the Freedom School tradition of critical consciousness, cultural pride, and collective action. It will prioritize communal discussion, intergenerational dialogue, and the development of students’ own voices as agents of change.
Wilson’s American Century Cycle provides an unparalleled opportunity to engage with enduring questions about legacy, cultural memory, and the ongoing fight for freedom. By studying these works in a Freedom School setting, students can draw connections between past and present, fostering a deeper understanding of how history informs contemporary movements for justice. Enroll below. It's FREE!