The story revolves around the progress of man. Specifically, the White Man. He used other races to reach the top, taking all the credit for the work that was a joint effort. Throughout American history, black people have been exploited and humiliated, and their place in history often goes unrecognized, unless the topic in question is the Civil War or the civil rights movement. The central theme of The America Play by Suzan Lori-Parks is the idea that blacks helped create the white man's history and that blacks have had to answer to whites since slavery began long ago. Meanwhile, no one seems to care about black history. Throughout the work there are some symbolic points that directly, and therefore obviously, refer to the theme. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay “The Great Man” and “The Lesser Known” are intended to give titles to Abraham Lincoln and the Foundling Father in the play, but serve to symbolize blacks and whites as a whole. The Foundling Father makes his living imitating Lincoln. Lincoln is an extremely famous man, but the Foundling Father lives a life of anonymity. He is only famous because he creates himself to be the Abraham Lincoln that white Americans remember him to be. The Foundling Father even says that "inaccuracies are good for business...people don't like their Lincoln hats" (1831). He has to dress like the stereotype of Lincoln as white people knew him. This is the only way he can get attention and business from white people. He also constantly nods and winks at the Lincoln bust and cutout in approval, as if responding to the "Great Man," or rather, white men. He needs their approval for his portrayal of Lincoln, just as blacks have had to respond to and seek approval from whites for the entirety of American history. The titles “The Great Man” and “The Lesser Known” symbolize precisely this. Another symbol related to the history of the relationship between white and black Americans is the departure of the father from the life of his son. Not only were black people shadowed and given orders, but they were controlled and brainwashed. He left his family to dig one last hole, a hole that symbolized white history. Then he died. He had to leave his family to accomplish this feat entrusted to him by the "Great Man". It was as if he had no other choice. He left his family “you go on” (1839).” This was his life path decided by the White Man, and he had no control over it. He did not inform his family because he himself was not notified. He left while his son was in the middle of dinner, because the White Man controlled his life. It can be argued that his destiny was to dig this last hole and that he did, in fact, have control over his own life, but I would argue that this hole was his final task for the whites. After a lifetime of digging holes for "The Big Man," this was the last. His occupation as a grave digger was passed down from his black ancestors and would be passed down to his son. Until their path can be changed, they will always be controlled by "The Great Man". Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Of course, the Big Hole in the Story is the greatest form of symbolism in the work. It was excavated by the Lesser Known for the Great Man and is said to contain the stories of history. White history, that is. The Black Man dug the hole that holds the White Man's story. THE.