Radio Golf

_Radio Golf_ is is the last play in August Wilson's "Century Series" set in 1997 Pittsburgh and, after  The Piano Lesson (The August Wilson Century Cycle) , it is his most powerful piece. In concluding his magnum opus, Wilson ends where the series began, at 1839 Wylie St. (the setting of  Gem of the Ocean (August Wilson Century Cycle) .) The Hill District has become derlict - a run-down part of the city where crime is rampant, poverty is endemic. Harmond Wilks, a candidate for mayor, and his business partner Roosevelt Hicks see an opportunity to redevelop the Hill District - gentrifying it and making millions for themselves. Their plans go awry, however, when it becomes apparent that the center of their redevelopment, 1839 Wylie, was illeagally purchased by the development company and the rightful owner, Elder Joseph Barlow, refuses to let his family home be torn down. A crisis of conscience follows: should Wilks proceed with the development? His position in the city and candidacy would allow him to illeaglly proceed, but he is morally conflicted; Hicks has no compunction.The play is powerful for a number of reasons: unlike many of Wilson's plays, the plot only obliquely addresses race - the conflict here is one of social class rather than of race directly. It also raises the question of how much responsibility does a society have to its underprivlidged? It was the issue of gentrification that resonated most strongly with me, however. As the Hill District is redeveloped, the long-time African-American community would be forced out (a Starbucks, Barnes and Noble, and Whole Foods would replace homes) replaced with business, homes and services catering to the upper-middle class (whites as well as African-Americans.) This is happening in my own city, and in cities around the country (5-Points in Denver, the Treme in New Orleans, the site of the old Cabrini Green in Chicago to name a few).The injustice of the process of gentrification is what WIlson highlights; it is essentially a class-conflict. As one working-class character, Sterling, reminds Wilks, "The white mayor he be the mayor of white folks. Black folks can't get the streets cleaned. The schools don't have no textbooks. Don't have no football uniforms, The mayor be the mayor of white folks. ... What's wrong with being the mayor for black folks?" To which Wilks responds, "I'm going to be the mayor for everybody. Its not about being black or white, it's about being American." Later in the play Hicks tells Sterling, "It's not my fault if your daddy's in jail, your mama's on drugs, your little sister's pregnant and the kids don't have any food 'cause the welfare cut off the money. Roosevelt Hicks ain't holding nobody back. Roosevelt Hicks got money. Roosevelt Hicks got a job because Roosevelt Hicks wanted one. You ... kill me blaming somebody else for your troubles. Get up ... quit stealing ... quit using drugs ... go to school ... get a job ... pay your taxes. Oh, I see, you can't do that because Roosevelt Hicks is holding you back."In the forward, August Wilson writes, "In the twenty-first century, we can go forward together. That was my idea behind the play." He has done this, and succeeded brilliantly in reminding us that all Americans have a fundamental responsibility to do right by each other. Such egalitarianism is at the heart of our shared national ideal. If you have a chance to see the play performed, do not miss it. Reading the play is an equally rewarding experience. My highest recommendations.

Anything August Wilson. My daughter brought me the complete series of plays by this marvelous playwright. I will keep it to hand down to my grandchild.

This is a proper finale to Wilson's century cycle, I read this play and the nine others as part of a college class and it wraps up the saga with Wilson's usual brand of honesty that makes his work so compelling. It speaks with sharp tongue about the ills of the black community but it all has the cathartic ring of truth. It is a bit slow to start but is an engaging story of redemption that is as funny as it is thought provoking.

Great book! Fast shipping.

Radio Golf is another great snap shot in the African American Experience by August Wilson. It tells an excellent story of what happened after urban renewal to neighborhoods and the people who are trying to hold on to its rich heritage and move into the future. Leaves plenty of room for discussion throughout the book if you are a teacher.

Clean, new/like new copy, came on time. Perfect for my class.

I love this series and this is one of the better ones. - Black realistate developer does right and sticks by his word as his friends abandon him

I mean, come on, it's August Wilson!