As more details are revealed about Boy Willie Charles in The Piano Lesson, he becomes a more fascinating character. At the beginning of The Piano Lesson, Boy Willie and his friend Lymon arrive in Pittsburgh with a truckload of watermelon. They stay with Boy Willie’s sister, Berniece, and uncle, Doaker, while they try to sell the watermelons. However, Boy Willie’s real reason for going to Pittsburgh is to sell his family’s piano so that he can afford to buy land in Mississippi. This complicated the film’s story and has led to positive reviews for The Piano Lesson.

https://screenrant.com/why-boy-willie-was-in-prison-the-piano-lesson/