b'T3 Journal - Student Writing in Drama, University of Exeter 2018-19DAD:For heaven sake Abigail! Stop being so naive! let me open up your eyes to reality. No matter how muchyou know or have, you will always be Black first. Yes, I may not know any actors or anything about acting, but I know what its like to be black witha dream. I know what its like to be turned down because of the colour of my skin, not because I didntknow my stuff, because believe you me I made sure I knew my stuff, but because I am black. I may nothave money Abigail but I have a heap load of experience. Experience about dealing with situations we have to face because we want to be successful and have equal opportunities. The advice I can offeryou is advice that Tom, Dick and Harry know nothing about. Advice about how to ensure people likethat Howard guy never make you feel as though youre not worth anything. You are not talentless. Youare not a charity.But here you are running to another upper-class White man, for opportunities to be handed to youWhat makes you think he will be any different? What makes you think he can make your problems goaway? And if he can, thats great! Itd be nice to know not every white man is prejudiced. But what you donot do, what you never do, is see see this Oliver, as more valuable than your own family. Never forgetwho you are and where you came from, and never look down upon the little things that your family canoffer you.Because those things are much more valuable. Dad exits, silenceLater in the play Oliver takes Abigail to her first audition. Abigail is disheartened when she realises he signed her up for a minor role despite fitting the brief for the leading role. This extract demonstrates implicit racism as she questions his intentions for doing so. It is clear that while Oliver had her best interests at heart, his unconscious prejudice unintentionally deprives Abigail of a major opportunity. Abigail begins to realise how her race can be a major obstacle in pursuing her dreams.Scene 8ABIGAIL:Yeah, maybe that was something else you read. So why didnt you sign me up for this role?OLIVER:Look theres no rush Abby, its better you get experience practicing auditions for minor roles, so youll be ready for the big ones.ABIGAIL:[sigh] I guess so.OLIVER:[caringly] and the last thing I want is for you to rush into it and get disheartened if it doesnt turn out theway you plan. [ABIGAIL agrees] And I know youre not naive. we both know there would be hardly anychance of you, or that other girl, getting that role [signals to the other Black girl]ABIGAIL:[looks up] What? Why wouldnt we have a chance? OLIVER:Come on. the description of the character wouldnt suit you for TV. ABIGAIL continues to wait for a better answer.ABIGAIL: [Jokingly] What, because were Black?OLIVER:[without realising that ABIGAIL was joking] Yes, I doubt they will cast a black girl for a middle-class character like this.42'