The Niceties by Eleanor Burgess

Author:Eleanor Burgess [Burgess, Eleanor]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Drama, General
ISBN: 9780573707995
Google: yDr1DwAAQBAJ
Barnesnoble:
Goodreads: 52053448
Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
Published: 2019-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

savages, I wasn’t referring to

any of the cultures historically

referred to as savages, I would

never do that. It was ironic,

because I was talking about

technologically advanced /

people –

ZOE: Maybe it would be.

If you hadn’t told a delightful little story about the invasion of India. The forcible colonization of millions of people, it’s funny to you.

JANINE: No it isn’t–

ZOE: And those little remarks, like, “You’re protesting the first female supreme court justice?” – as if I’m stupid as if you know so much more than me–

JANINE: I do know more than you!!

ZOE: Can you hear it?

You have a contempt for your students. Particularly your students who think different from you.

JANINE: Differently.

ZOE takes a moment.

ZOE: You use your intelligence to critique and belittle people who have less power than you.

Like your comments on my paper.

You think that’s helpful? To take a person who’s trying to put forward an underrepresented point of view, and to criticize them until they feel like they might as well just give up because you’ll never understand?

JANINE: I didn’t tell you to give up. I specifically told you that I thought you had a lot of potential.

ZOE: If I work harder than anyone else to please you.

JANINE: To suit what good methodol–

ZOE: Listen.

There is one appropriate way of responding to a woman of color who says, I have an idea to assert, and that is to shut up and listen.

Because she has experiences you cannot possibly know, and insight you can learn from.

Beat.

JANINE: To shut up and listen, as you so rudely put it, would be doing you a disservice.

If all you want to hear is that you are 100% right and everything you do is perfect that is not a service I provide.

I have been to you exactly the teacher I would have wanted.

ZOE: But I’m not you. That’s the thing – you like white ideas, you get white ideas, so you are not qualified to critique my thinking, and in lieu of that I would like for you to hear and validate what I have to say.

JANINE: I’m not going to validate you. You’re not a parking ticket.

You are a very young person with a lot to learn, including that you will never get ahead in life if you are rude and confrontational with powerful people when they’re trying to help you.

Beat. ZOE gets out her phone. Seems to be engrossed by it.

JANINE: What are you doing?

ZOE: I’m canceling plans with a friend for tonight. I’m not going to be in any mood to go out.

JANINE: Look, I think we should call it a day, actually. I have some work to get done.

ZOE: You said you were free until 8:30.

She sets her phone down on the desk.

JANINE: Zoe. Greatness does not come from a supportive environment.

I have a friend, she’s one of the top cardiothoracic surgeons in the country.

Do you think she got there because a doctor stood next to her during her first 100 surgeries, and said – you’re doing great? Your approach is really valid? No. He – and it was a he – said, that’s not perfect.

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