The son of a white father and a black mother, August Wilson was born Frederick August Kittel on April 27, 1945 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. August Wilson was a Pulitzer prize winner in drama for "Fences". His plays dealt with the African - American experience , and is probably the most significant black playwright of the 20th century. He is best known for his unprecedented cycle of 10 plays, often called the Pittsburgh Cycle because all but one play is set in the Pittsburgh neighborhood where August Wilson grew up. The series of plays chronicle the tragedies and aspirations of African Americans during each decade of the 20th century. August Wilson gained inspiration from African American artist, Romare Bearden. "When I saw his work, it was the first time that I had seen black life presented in all its richness, and I said, 'I want to do that -- I want my plays to be the equal of his canvases.'"