Baseball is America's pastime. The sport of baseball dates back to the Civil War era in 1839. August Wilson saw the sport's potential to send a message and incorporated it into his play Fences. His collection of ten pieces depicts the hardships of African Americans in each decade of the 20th century (Wilson 961). Fences, in particular, depicts the 1950s (Wilson 961). When you read Fences, yes, it is about the struggle of African Americans during that time, but it also incorporates baseball as several plot elements and a metaphor for life. The play “Fences” by August Wilson describes the life of an African. -American family who is por. Troy Maxson, the father, was a baseball player in the Negro League but never reached the Majors League. The play is about Troy's struggle with his children and his wife. He has a son named Lyons who doesn't live with the family but always asks Troy for money. Troy's main problem comes from his son Cory. Cory wants to become a football player but Troy doesn't agree. Cory gave up his job and studies to focus on football, but Troy doesn't like it and kicks him out of the house. During all of this, Troy faces racial bias in his job. His boss will not allow black people to drive the garbage trucks, but after Troy's plea, his boss allows him to drive the truck and he becomes the first black man to drive a truck in the entire city of Pittsburgh. Cory leaves home and only returns 8 years later, when his father dies. August Wilson wrote this play because he wanted to show the racial tensions as well as the family tensions he experienced as a child. Metaphors are an important part of any story. In this particular story, Fe...... middle of paper ......, can be used to teach others things they may not be aware of. “A little later, you come across a play… which seems to move away from the limits of an art to become a dense and complex realization of humanity. A veil has been torn…” (Barnes 1019). Fences is a story that can accomplish this, using baseball as a plot element and a metaphor for life. Works Cited Barnes, Clive. “Fiery Fences: A Review”. New York Post March 27, 1987: C23. Print. Koprince, Susan. “Baseball as History and Myth in the Fences of August Wilson.” African American Review 40.3 (2006): 349-58. PrintRichards, Lloyds. Director's introduction. Fences: a play. By August Wilson. New York: New American Library, 1986. vii-viii. PrintWilson, August. “Fences.” Approaching literature Reading, thinking, writing. 3rd ed. Peter Schakel, Jack Ridl. Boston: Bedford St. Martin's, 2012. 959-1018. Print.