Why Is It Important To Remember In The Piano Lesson

Carter G. Woodson, an American historian and scholar known as the father of Black history, once stated, “We have a wonderful history behind us…and it is going to inspire us to greater achievements.” (NAACP.org). Understanding your past, whether that be familial, cultural, or personal, is an important factor in understanding yourself as well. African Americans have many historical events within their history, including the Great Migration, the Civil Rights Movement, the Little Rock Nine, and many others. Not only is it important for African Americans to remember this history, but it's important for everyone to remember this history because we would not have the society we have today without these historical events. In The Piano Lesson, August

Boy Willie believes one of the reasons that piano is still in the family is because his father gave it to them to build a future, regardless of the history behind it. He states that, “That was my great-grandaddy. Papa Boy Charles brought that piano into the house. Now I'm supposed to build on what they left me. You can't do nothing with that piano sitting up here in the house. That's just like if I let them watermelons sit out there and rot. I'd be a fool.” (51). Boy Willie only views the piano as something he needs to make money on to build his future. He does not deny the past and the history behind the piano, however he forgets to respect and appreciate it. This conveys Wilson's thematic idea that one does not have to deny their past to forget the importance of their history, they instead need to respect, acknowledge, and appreciate it. Papa Boy Charles paved a path for Boy Willie and Bernice to build their futures on, however contrary to what Boy Willie believes, it does not involve the piano. When talking about his father, Boy Willie states, “He sitting there saying, ‘I got these big old hands but what am I gonna go with them? Best I can do is make a fifty-acre crop for Mr. Stovall.

Bernice knows the story behind her family history, however she doesn’t really like to acknowledge it that often. She does however know how hard her family members had worked to get her where she is today. She mentions on page 52, “Look at this piano. Mama Ola polished this piano with her tears for seventeen years. For seventeen years she rubbed on it till her hands bled. Then she rubbed the blood in … mixed it up with the rest of the blood on it. Every day that God breathed life into her body she rubbed and cleaned and polished and prayed over it.” (52). Bernice knows the blood sweat and tears that went into taking care of the piano, which is why she also looks after it in Doaker's home in which she lives. However, she refuses to touch it. Similarly to how she refuses to acknowledge the story of the piano and how while she respects the history, she has a tendency to deny it. This conveys Wilson's thematic idea that while one can respect that of their family history, if they don't acknowledge every aspect of that history they will fail to find their self worth and focus on their future. Bernice, similar to Boy Willie, does not want to live her life like that of her ancestors and does not want to be like her mother in