Fences Scene Selection Rationale

We chose Act 1, Scene 3, lines 80-215 to represent our topic of the Civil Rights Movement. In this scene, Cory and Troy are talking to each other about major league baseball. They are talking about the varying opportunities that a white man has compared to a black man in the major league.  “If they got a white fellow sitting on the bench… you can bet your last dollar he can’t play!  The colored guy got to be twice as good before he get on the team”(1. 3. 90-91).  This was said by Troy and shows how he believes that the opportunities for blacks and whites in the major league are not equal.  During the Civil Rights Movement, there were advances to create equal rights and opportunities and this shows the institutionalized racism that existed in the major leagues.

Throughout the story Cory is being recruited to play football in college.  Troy does not want him to pursue this opportunity due to Troy’s life experiences with racism within the sports community.  “The white man ain’t gonna let you get nowhere with that football noway.  You go on and get your book-learning so you can work yourself up in that A&P or learn how to fix cars or build houses or something, get you a trade”(1.3.123-126).  This shows Troy’s opinion on Cory playing football.  Troy was raised in a society that accepted racism and Troy thinks that Cory won’t have any future in sports because of it.  This shows how Troy does not realized the changes being slowly made by blacks fighting for their rights in society.  Cory is from a more recent and reformed generation and he sees the changes being made. He wants to utilize his new rights and opportunities and help fight for new ones.

Troy is allowing the racism in society to form his life by restricting him to a certain working class.  He is living in the past and not progressing as the Civil Rights Movement progresses in society. Rose tries to talk sense into Troy. “Times have changed from when you was young, Troy.  People change.  The world’s changing around you and you can’t even see it” (1.3.214-215).   Troy doesn’t listen and keeps the perspective he has from growing up in a society filled with racism.

Wilson, A. (2011). Fences. In C. Jago, R. H. Shea, L. Scanlon, & R. D. Aufses, Literature and Composition   (pp. 212-216). Boston/New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.