On Community: Playwright August Wilson and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” The McDonough County Voice February is Black History Month, and we are in a striking period of time as Americans continue to develop their appreciation for how difficult the African-American experience has been over the years and also bear witness to some striking social achievements—including the election of the first Black and female vice president, Kamala Harris. Also, the most talked-about film that emerged in 2020, which will surely be an official nominee for various Academy Awards, relates to the African-American struggle: “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” It is based on a play by Black author August Wilson, whose achievement ought to be more well-known.