How Could She Do It?

Thanks for that article, Nate.

It's easy to say I agree with August Wilson, and the above full statement he made on the matter---and never backed down from, apparently---explains his position in no uncertain terms.

What I don't understand is how his wife could approve of this director. Isn't this really about respecting the wishes of your departed spouse? I mean, it seems obvious to me that she disagreed with Wilson on the matter, or else she would never have approved the white director. But I'm still astonished: even if she disagreed with Wilson, how could she ever, knowing how strongly he felt about it, approve a white director? To me, her only responsible response is to say, "If it were up to me, I'd say yes. But this is my husband's work, and he took it very seriously, and he also took very seriously who was allowed to direct his work. He clearly wouldn't want this to happen. I now make decisions on his behalf, and how I, personally, feel about whites directing his plays is completely beside the point. He doesn't want it; therefore, it won't happen."

How else could she responsibly rule? She didn't write the plays! Why can't she not just honor his work, but also honor his wishes? (And as his statement makes clear, he'd prefer for his work not to go forward if the powers the be don't ascede to his wishes; Fences never got made, after all; his statement was published in 1990!)

I know you didn't post the article to talk about life after death and the responsibilities the living have to respect---or violate---the wishes of the dead, but I have to say, this whole deal comes off to me as a beware-who-you-marry cautionary tale....