The Passing of August Wilson

August Wilson, the eminent playwright of Black life and culture, died in his home in Seattle.

Wilson's plays nurtured my love for the theatre. They were the first, and often the only productions to feature an authentic black experience. Authentic not because they dealt with poverty, death, love, and the urban environment, but instead because he did not omit that reality.

Personally, Wilson was more than a favorite writer. He was the authority on listening to black America, and transcribing her voice for the stage. Wilson was and shall remain a North Star of inspiration for me, as well as generations of people who strive to study and preserve culture.

Fortunately, he leaves behind a complete cycle of plays on the black experience. The Times and the Post offer appreciation.

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And if La Ciudad Chocolat goes on unexpected hiatus, it's because I've been called to serve in the Judicial Branch.