August Wilson uses his play The Piano Lesson to explore the turmoil in the homes and hearts of many African Americans in the 1930s. Many African Americans are torn between taking pride in their heritage, tarnished by the slavery of their ancestors, and leaving the past completely behind and ignoring their horrific past. Wilson uses Berniece, an unconventional African American woman, to exemplify both sides of the struggle between remembering one's past and disdaining it to focus on the future. Berniece's ultimate acceptance and appreciation of her heritage is the only force powerful enough to stop the chaos unfolding in her life. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The Piano Lesson is a male-dominated play, except for Berniece, who can't decide whether to completely ignore her African-American heritage or celebrate her ancestry. Many other African Americans in the 1930s were in the same situation as Berniece. They are physically free from slavery but are still discriminated against and don't know whether they should be proud of their past or ashamed of it. As one of the few 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 a daughter alone after her husband is killed during a clash with the police; an incident he blames solely on Boy Willie. Berniece and Boy Willie don't get along, and she fervently denies his attempts to sell the family piano. On the surface it appears he has a strong connection to the piano due to its significance to his heritage. When Boy Willie tries to convince Berniece to get rid of the piano, she responds: “Look at this piano. Look at it. Mama Ola has polished this piano with her tears for seventeen years” (Wilson, 52). He does not appreciate the piano for its musical value, but wants to keep it out of respect for his ancestors. Although Berniece wants to keep the piano, she doesn't want to celebrate her heritage and acts like it's something to be ashamed of. . Boy Willie tells her that “she should mark on her calendar the day Daddy Boy Charles brought that piano into the house…and every year when it comes, throw a party” (Wilson, 91). Boy Willie adds that his daughter, Maretha, would be able to hold her head high in life if they celebrated their past, but Berniece dismisses the idea. At the start of the show Berniece tells Maretha: “Don't go down there and show your colour” (Wilson, 27). This statement clearly implies that being black is something to be ashamed of and should be hidden. Berniece also refuses to touch or play the piano and does not like to talk about his past. However, he still fervently insists on keeping the piano and cannot bear to see it sold to another family. Berniece is very unconventional for a 1930s woman. She is very independent and intends to remain so. When her boyfriend, Avery, insists on marrying her, she scolds him, saying, “You're trying to tell me that a woman can't be anything without a man. But you're okay, huh? 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 support a child without the help of a man. This idea is more common today, but in the 1930s it would have been very unusual. The way the other men in the play interact with Berniece suggests that her opinion is respected and that she is a very stubborn woman. If it weren't so, Boy Willie would be.