Alice Childress's Wine In The Wilderness

Alice Childress
Alice Childress is one of the most famous African American playwrights in the history of playwrights in America. She was born on October 12, 1920 in Charleston, North Carolina. When she was five years old she was sent to live with her grandmother. It is because of her grandmother that she became the woman she was. Childress was very important to America. In a book comprised of different plays it said, “Alice Childress is the only black women playwright in America whose plays have been written, produced, and published over a period of four decades” (Brown-Guillory, 98). The plays that were written by Childress introduce timeless thought provoking conversations about society. Two of her most influential plays were Florence and
Alice Childress’, Wine in the Wilderness, exposes the classism that rest within the African American community once certain ones become educated and start doing well for themselves. Many look down on the community they once came from instead of acknowledging where they are and helping them succeed just like they did. This play also exposes the idea of femininity. Many people in the African American community and in patriarchal society believe a women has to be poised and soft spoken to be classified as a woman. These gender roles get in the way of a woman and her ability to be her own individual and not what society expects. Alice is trying to get the audience to understand the way African Americans are treated by one another when they do not have an education and when they do not have money. She also wants us to look at the idea of what is feminine and what is not. Bill was adamant about what he thought was “lady-like” and what he thought was not. It even shows through the description of his paintings. Wine in the Wilderness is important to African American Culture. It points out inadvertently the progress that needs to be made within the community for more unification. This play is still important. So many people still do the same thing Bill and his friends did to Tommy. They look down on others simply because of what they have instead of who they are. Alice Childress’ works are important for the African American community, especially Florence and Wine in the Wilderness. They both show the struggles of African Americans then and now. These two phenomenal works will forever impact the community. Their timeless themes will never get old and will always give future generations something to think