The Fusing of Inner Life Theory and Outer Life Theory in Lorraine Hansberry?s A Raisin in the Sun and August Wilson's Fence

The criteria of examining African American theater based theories espoused by the philosopher Alain Locke (1886-1954) and the sociologist W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1954). They drew up the ground plans for modern African American drama. Du Bois' Outer life theory and Locke's Inner Life theory informed African American drama. Du Bois’ Outer Life theory recommended the African American theatre as a medium for advancing propaganda that would promote the culture’s battle against racism . A theater that presented the Negro as a cultured, intellectual, and feeling being. Alain Locke’s Inner Life theory on the other hand considered the African American theatre medium as the vehicle of the New Negro, by which real life, believable characters could be presented in plays without the concern of any misinterpretation by white audiences. This meant that African Americans could be noticed through their lives and art by the community in which they moved. The aim of this study is to ascertain whether Lorrain Hansberry or August Wilson adhered to Alain Locke's Inner life theory or W.E.B Du Bois' Outer life theory in their dramaturgy.