August Wilson uses his play The Piano Lesson to explore the unrest that reigned in the homes and hearts of many African Americans in the 1930s. Many African Americans are torn between being proud of their heritage, blackened by the slavery of their ancestors, and leaving the past completely behind them and ignoring their horrible past. Wilson uses Berniece, an unconventional African-American woman, to illustrate both sides of the struggle between remembering one's past and ignoring it to focus on the future. Berniece's ultimate acceptance and appreciation of her heritage is the only force powerful enough to end the chaos unfolding in her life. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay The Piano Lesson is a play dominated by men, except for Berniece, who can't decide whether she must completely reject her African-American heritage or celebrate her ancestors. Many other African Americans in the 1930s found themselves in the same predicament as Berniece. They are physically freed from slavery but still face discrimination and don't know whether to be proud of their past or ashamed of it. As one of the only women in the play, Berniece is very representative of women in the 1930s and women in the African American community. She is forced to raise her daughter alone after her husband is killed in a skirmish with the police; an incident she attributes solely to Boy Willie. Berniece and Boy Willie do not get along and she fervently denies his attempts to sell the family piano. On the surface, it appears that she has a strong connection to the piano due to the importance of her heritage. When Boy Willie tries to convince Berniece to get rid of the piano, she responds, “Look at that piano. Look at him. Mama Ola polished this piano with her tears for seventeen years” (Wilson, 52). She does not appreciate the piano for its musical value but wants to keep it out of respect for her ancestors. Although Berniece wants to keep the piano, she does not want to celebrate her heritage and acts as if it is something shameful. . Boy Willie tells her that she "should mark on the calendar the day Papa Boy Charles brought that piano into the house...and every year, when that happens, have a party" (Wilson, 91). Boy Willie adds that his daughter, Maretha, would be able to hold her head high in life if she celebrated her past, but Berniece rejects the idea. At the beginning of the play, Berniece tells Maretha, “Don't go in there showing your color” (Wilson, 27). This statement clearly implies that being colored is something to be ashamed of and hidden. Berniece also refuses to touch or play the piano and does not like to discuss her past. However, she still fervently insists on keeping the piano and cannot bear to sell it to another family. Berniece is very non-conformist for a woman from the 1930s. She is very independent and intends to stay that way. When her boyfriend, Avery, insists on marrying her, she berates him, saying, "You're trying to tell me that a woman can't be anything without a man." But it's okay, right? You can just walk out of here without me – without a woman – and still be a man” (Wilson, 67). Although she still misses her husband, she is content to raise and provide for a child without the help of a man. This idea is more common today, but in the 1930s it would have been a very unusual thing. The way the other men in the play interact with Berniece suggests that her opinion is respected and that she is a very tough woman. If this.