Their relationship is not a typical loving bond, but instead filled with jealousy and animosity. In the play Fences, the father, Troy, grew up in a time when racial inequality was still prevalent. Troy was not able to follow his dream of playing professional baseball due to the fact that he was African American. Troy’s wife, Rose, informs him that “times have changed since you was playing baseball” (Wilson 969). She also tells him that “they got lots of colored boys playing ball now. Baseball and football” (Wilson 369). Their son Cory, who is a teenager in 1957, was high school football player with an opportunity to play college ball. Troy’s jealousy becomes evident during a conversation about a recruiter stopping by. Troy starts the conversation by:
Troy: Your mama tell me you done got recruited by a college football team? Is that right?
Cory: Yeah. Coach Zellman say the recruiter gonna be coming by to talk to you. Get you to sign the permission papers.
Troy: I thought you supposed to be working down there at the A&P. Ain’t you suppose to be working down there after