The Test - by Angelica Gibbs - Game Script A short story that deals with Racism and Discrimination


Background

'The Test' by Angelica Gibbs is a short story about the perception of White people vs. Black people which was shown back in the 1940's in America. The story revolves around one woman called Marian that keeps getting racially abused by one white sterail type known as the 'Inspector' as this leads to her failing the test and needing to wait longer for another a tempt .

"The test" is about a black woman, Marian, taking a test for her driver’s license. She has failed her driver's test for the second time due to racist inspectors who made the experience hard to bear.

In the story, her racist driving instructor adopts a heartless attitude towards her, and thus insults her race. Marian, being unable to restrain her anger anymore finally breaks down, answering back at the instructor, resulting in her not achieving her driver license

A young African-American woman named Marian has failed her driving test for the second time as a result of rasict inspectors. Marian is a hard working woman, she got a driving license three years ago in Pennsylvania and has a first academic degree. She works for Mrs. Ericson as her housekeeper.

Throughout her test, the inspector verbally abuses her with racist remarks and addresses her as "Mandy-Lou" which is known as a negative nickname. Towards the end of the test, Marian feels as if she can no longer tolerate the inspector's racist remarks and erupts on him.

 

Characters

Marian Housekeeper

The main character in the story. Works as a housekeeper at the home of Mrs. Erickson. Marianis an educated African-American woman.

 


Your Task

Hi Marian,
You must convince the members of the panel here that you are a victim of racial discrmination.


Try to rely on the resources that are attached. You can learn a lot from them!

 


Resources

Scene - 01

1st Inspector Driving Tester

The first Driver examiner humiliates Marian with racist remarks only because she is a black lady. He fails her in purpose causing a traumatic experience which will continue on with her. 


Your Task

Hey Tester,
You must convince the members of the panel here that failing Marian was the right thing to do.

Try to rely on the resources that are attached to you, you can learn a lot from them!

 Watch this youtube clip - try to refer to the social aspect of racism back in the 1940's.

Watch this youtube clip as well.

Search for more inline information!! 


Resources

Scene - 01

Mrs. Ericson Marian's Boss

Mrs. Ericson has Marian's best interests at heart. Mrs. Ericsson is Marian's boss. She comes along with Marian to her second driving test after going through a difficult experience in the first one. She suggests her coming to Marian's test but Marian refuses.


Your Task

Hi Mrs. Ericson,
You must convince the members of the panel here that racism against African-American should be forbidden.

Keep in mind than Marian is an African-American lady who works for you.

Try to rely on the resources that are attached to you, you can learn a lot from them!

Soure 1 - "Some 1.5 million African Americans left the South during the 1940s, mainly for the industrial cities of the North. Once again, serious housing shortages and job competition led to increased tension between blacks and whites. Race riots broke out; the worst occurred in Detroit in June 1943." 

Source 2

 

 


Resources

Scene - 01

2nd Inspector

The Second Driving examiner, causes Marian to relive her traumatic experience from her first driving test. Throughout her test, he doesn’t stop assaulting Marian and sounding racist remarks at her. He calls her all kinds of nicknames which have a strong negative connection to her being a black lady.


Your Task

Hi Mrs. Ericson,
You must convince the members of the panel here that failing Marian for the second time was the right thing to do. Justify your action!

Try to rely on the resources that are attached to you, you can learn a lot from them!

Are we born racist?

Watch this youtube clip! 

watch this youtube clip as well.


Resources

Scene - 01

Angelica Gibbs Author

(1908-1955) Author. born in New York and had a hard lifestyle. Her struggles influenced her writing. Gibbs succeeds in conveying the attitudes and prejudices of not just two men, but certainly a whole community, maybe a broader audience and how it effects one young woman.


Your Task

Dear Angelica,
You must convince the members of the panel here that XXX

Try to rely on the resources that are attached to you, you can learn a lot from them!

Read about The Journey Of Recinciliation. You may use this article as a part of your answer.

Look for more information online.


Resources

Scene - 01

Scene 1: Tips for the next test


1.

Public Message

Hi all,

You are about to experience the "The Test" through the eye of the characters.

Each character, represents his/her interpretation to the plot and to an era where Racism was common.

The goal of this panel is to decide whether the two inspectors are guilty for their behavior, or not.

You will be exposed to shocking racial incidents, new and interesting information. 

Welcome to the 1940's...

Enjoy and Good Luck!


2.

Private (Shortly After previous message)

Marian:

Marian,

Your first Inspector who has failed you the first time, is now working on building his case on defending his decision.

Use this article to prove your position as a victim of racisal discrimination.

 

1st Inspector:

"Even right-thinking individuals make unconscious decisions based on a person's race".

Write down your insights based on this quote. 

Don't forget to refer to your character's actions in the story.

Click here for more information that might help you.

Mrs. Ericson :

Mrs.Ericson,

your assignment is to prove you want what is best for Marian as well as bringring the importance of Racism into awareness. Keep in mind that Marian is an African-American lady who works for you. 

 

 

2nd Inspector:

Your assignment it to defend and justify your decision to fail Ms. Marian for the second time.

Attached are a few photos taken back in the 1940's.

These ads represent the overall atmosphere in those years, towards Black people.

Look carefully and examine the wording in each ad.

Try to think how thses ads might have a connection to the way you chose to behave (socirty, values and etc.)

It is highly recommended to look for more information on web.

Angelica Gibbs:

You have brought up the Racial aspect into awareness.

All characters are working on defending their actions.

Your task is to convey the message of Racism and the resistance to racism.

You may refer to all aspects: social, economical, political, institutional and more.

 


3.

Private (Shortly After previous message)

Marian:

Marian is an educated African-American lady. She has a first degree as written in the story.

Find out more about "education in the 1940's" regarding to African-American people.

How relatively different was Marian?

Source 1

Watch this youtube clip!

Use these things to convince the panel members!

 

1st Inspector:

Think about it...

Is being suspicious towards a person's abilities related to racism?

Use these things to convince the panel members!

Mrs. Ericson :

In your opinion, would Marian have passed her driving test if Mrs.Ericson had joined her?

Use these things to convince the panel members!

2nd Inspector:

Do you believe the second inspector might have felt threatened or inferior due to Marian's status? (she was educated - he might not have a degree and she had her driver's licens).

Could it be that the inspector had taken out his anger by failing her?

Keep in mind that Marian is a exceptional African-American.

Use these things to convince the panel members!

 

Angelica Gibbs:

Throughout the story, the author emphasizes that Maria is actually a good driver and well educated.

Find evidence to that in the text.

Why do you believe she decided to add this information in the text?

Use these things to convince the panel members!

 


4.

Private (a while after previous message)

Marian:

In your opinion, why does the writer puts much effort on making us believe that Marian is a strong, educated and intelligent woman?

Look for evidence in the text.

1st Inspector:

You have failed Marian while causing her feeling as an inferior person.

Try to justiy your decision by explaining that her problematic driving was the main cause of her failure.

 Watch this youtube clip - try to refer to the social aspect of racism back in the 1940's.

Watch this youtube clip as well.

Search for more inline information!! 

Mrs. Ericson :

How did Mrs.Ericson unconsciously support the theory of racism against African-American people?

You may look for evidence in the text.

2nd Inspector:

Write down all the times where the inspector calls Marian by the wrong name (racist nicknames).

Try to look at the sources attached to justify your actions and sayings towards Marian.

Are we born racist?

Watch this youtube clip! 

watch this youtube clip as well.

 

Angelica Gibbs:

Did the author succeeded in conveying the message of racism against African-American?

Try to find evidence in the text to support your answer.

You may use the information below to support your answer:

"On June 20, 1943, a fight broke out between African American and white Detroiters spending their Sunday on Belle Isle, the city’s large park in the middle of the Detroit River. Fighting spread to the mainland, and rumors crisscrossed the city, stoking racial tensions that had been running high and threatening to boil over into violence for months. Rioting spread, with little attempt from the police to stop it (in fact, much evidence points to many white police facilitating and even participating in violence against African Americans), and by the time President Franklin Roosevelt sent in federal troops on the evening of June 21, hundreds had been injured, and 34 people had died: 25 African American (17 of whom were shot by police), and 9 white. Of the arrests made later, 85% were African American."

*Original source - click here. 


5.

Public Message (a while after previous message)

"Give to every human being every right that you claim for yourself"


Robert G. Ingersoll

 


6.

Public Message (Shortly After previous message)

"Racist action is not natural but Racism is"

Write down your insights from your character point of view


Vote

Having heard all your team mates and considering all the information - please state your personal opinion on the dilemma:

Wouldn't you expect a fair logical common sense by an adult?

Can we judge the driving examiners's decision to fail Marian on purpose?

Are they entirely guilty for failing Marian?



Option 1
Yes
Option 2
No

Ending message for when most people voted for option



Option 1

Your team has decided that both examiners are NOT GUILTY for failing Marian. You believe their decision was affected by different factors which they couldn't have ignore at that time.


Option 2

Your team has decided that both examiners are GUILTY for failing Marian. You believe they have made the wrong decision based on racial prejudice.



Discussion Points

  1. Can we judge the driving examiner's remarks towards Marian?  (assuiming that at that time "white" people were educated (sometimes unconsciously) at school/home/society/communities to believe certain theories based on prejudice on "black" people.
  2. Are there some professions where women are discriminated against, and men are favored for the jobs?
  3. Do men and women get equal pay and equal opportunities in their work?
  4. What are the roles of women in Israel? Do these roles differ in different communities?
  5. Is there a justification for the women's liberation movements in Israel?
  6. Woman is the nigger of the world

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