August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean 

At the heart of the story is Aunt Ester, a 285-year-old spiritual guide who carries the collective memory of the African American experience. When Citizen Barlow arrives at her Pittsburgh home seeking absolution for a grave mistake, he is invited on a transformative journey aboard the mythical ship Gem of the Ocean—a voyage that reckons with history, responsibility, and the possibility of healing.

Blending mysticism with historical realism, Gem of the Ocean examines freedom not as a destination, but as a process—one that demands remembrance, accountability, and courage. With moments of lyric beauty, quiet humor, and piercing truth, the play connects the spiritual past to the lived present, reminding us that the road forward is paved by those who came before.