Troy faces significant racial and cultural isolation as a black man in a community dominated by white people. For example, in this community, a driving job is only given to white people. Thus, being an African America, he is discriminated against because of his race and cannot work as a driver (Wilson, 2022). In addition, there is a lot of inequality in the workplace as white people are assigned simple tasks such as driving jobs while their colleagues, the men of color, are given difficult tasks that involve a lot of lifting. Discrimination in the workplace promotes the issue of racial separation and makes other people identify Troy as a rebellious person. For instance, it is an embarrassing irony in the play when Troy is given a promotion to a driver position but cannot drive because he does not have a permit (Wilson, 2022). Therefore, this paper aims to determine whether Troy faces discrimination and an unfair culture or contributes to his downfall.
White recruiters and promoters evaluate players based on their skin color. Troy points out Croy as one person who limits African Americans from playing. He explains that Selkirk Gibson and Josh are nothing but a symbol of the best players and that African Americas are better baseball players. Such an example shows how skin color is not essential when choosing players because race does not determine a good player (Wilson, 2022).
Attempts by Troy to get opportunities just like Josh Gibson make him humiliated, sucking away his long-term dream of becoming a professional baseball player (Wilson, 2022). As a result, Troy becomes hopeless after being restricted from pursuing his professional dream as a baseball player. Even when a black player has better skills than a white colleague, they never give fair chances to African Americans (Wilson, 2022). In addition, chasing an academic professional instead of a professional baseball player is a sign of trauma affecting black people, unlike white students. Therefore, discrimination against Troy based on his skin color makes him a victim of cultural racism.
As a black American, people sympathize with some of his wrongdoings. For instance, his irresponsibility as a father starts at an early age when he uses his young child to make money, a symbol of an abusive association between a father and his child (Wilson, 2022). He is mistreating his children because they are raised in a black culture where poverty prevails and many life challenges. During his childhood, Troy used to work for his father’s benefit (Wilson, 2022). It is not his desire to inherit his father’s traits. However, racial differences and society have pushed him to abuse his children. Troy’s treatment as a child makes him abuse his children (Wilson, 2022). Therefore, he is a product of his surroundings and community. As a black American, Troy’s childhood experiences have been passed on to his children, making him a victim of an oppressive culture.
Conclusively, this essay has explored various ways Troy is a victim of discrimination and unfair culture and how this contributes to his downfall. Even though Troy is a good player, he is discriminated against from playing because of his color and racial background, making him drop his dream of becoming a baseball player. In addition, he faces isolation at the workplace by not being able to drive since he does not have a license, and he also mistreats his children as his father. Therefore, this makes Troy a victim of racism and culture, contributing to his downfall.
Reference
Wilson, A. (2022). Full text of “August Wilson “Fences”“. Web.