About The August WIlson Society

The August Wilson Society (AWS) is a national, multidisciplinary community of educators, scholars, students, theatre professionals, artists, and cultural advocates dedicated to preserving, studying, and advancing the legacy of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson. Founded at Howard University in 2006, shortly after Wilson’s passing, the Society serves as a vibrant hub for scholarship, artistic exchange, performance, and public engagement centered on his life and work.

Rooted in Wilson’s profound chronicling of African American life throughout the twentieth century, AWS promotes meaningful engagement with the ten-play American Century Cycle and the broader cultural, historical, and social questions embedded within it. Through lectures, colloquia, film discussions, educational programming, and artistic collaboration, the Society continues to connect new generations of learners and audiences to Wilson’s enduring contributions to American theatre and culture.

AWS maintains longstanding relationships with key institutions and stakeholders connected to Wilson’s legacy, including the August Wilson Estate, the August Wilson House, and the August Wilson African American Cultural Center in Pittsburgh.

History

The August Wilson Society was founded in the spring of 2006 by Dr. Sandra G. Shannon within Howard University’s College of Arts and Sciences, just months after the death of August Wilson in 2005 at the age of 60. Conceived as both a scholarly and cultural home for those devoted to Wilson’s work, AWS emerged during a moment of collective reflection on the playwright’s extraordinary impact on American theatre and African American storytelling.

Since its founding, the Society has grown into a respected national organization with deep ties to Howard University and strong relationships across the theatre, academic, and cultural sectors. AWS has earned the trust and cooperation of leaders connected to Wilson’s legacy and has become an important space for critical dialogue, artistic exploration, and intergenerational learning.

Over the years, the Society’s work has expanded through initiatives such as its biennial colloquium, annual lecture series, film discussions, and educational programming, all designed to foster deeper understanding of Wilson’s work and the histories it preserves.

Values

Legacy Preservation

We are committed to safeguarding and advancing the artistic, historical, and cultural legacy of August Wilson and the stories embedded within his work.

Scholarship and Education

We believe in rigorous inquiry, lifelong learning, and the transformative power of research, teaching, and intellectual exchange.

Living Performance

We affirm August Wilson’s work as a living body of art, meant not only to be studied and preserved, but performed, reinterpreted, and carried forward on stages, in classrooms, and across communities.

Community and Collaboration

We foster a multidisciplinary community grounded in dialogue, mutual respect, and shared commitment to African American cultural expression and storytelling.

Cultural Stewardship

We honor the responsibility of preserving and amplifying narratives that illuminate the richness, complexity, and resilience of the African American experience.

Intergenerational Engagement

We are dedicated to introducing new audiences and emerging scholars, artists, and students to Wilson’s work, ensuring its relevance and resonance for generations to come.

"Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing."

- August Wilson