PLOT AND CHARACTERS
Who is the main character of the story, and what did he serve in before coming to the courthouse?
Will Harris, and he served in the U.S. Army (he is a veteran).
What does the word informal mean, and how do Sam and Charlie show it in an official courtroom?
Casual or unofficial. They act casual, disrespectful, and mock Will instead of being professional.
How would you describe the tone (feeling) of the room during the story? Pick 2 words.
Tense, serious, cold, hostile, or unfair.
Which constitutional amendment guarantees that citizens cannot be denied the right to vote based on race?
The 15th Amendment.
Why is it ironic that Will's military discharge papers are used against him?
Because his military service proves his loyalty to the country, but they use it as a technicality to call him a liar.
Name the two white voter registration officials at the courthouse.
Sam and Charlie.
What does patronizing mean? Give one example of Sam being patronizing to Will.
Talking to someone like a child or acting superior. (Example: Calling Will "boy" or pretending to teach him basic things).
What does tense mean? How does Will's body probably feel during the scene?
Nervous waiting for something bad to happen. His body feels tight/stiff/in control.
What famous line from the Declaration of Independence does Sam force Will to read out loud?
"All men are created equal"
Is Will's quiet, polite behavior a sign of weakness or a sign of strength? Explain why.
Strength because he keeps his self-respect and dignity under pressure without giving them an excuse to arrest him.
What reason does Sam give at the very end of the story for rejecting Will’s application?
He says Will is a liar (because he didn't list the Army Reserve as an organization).
Explain the Catch-22 trap in the story in one simple sentence using: "If Will says no, _____, but if Will says yes, _____!"
If Will says no, they call him a liar; if he says yes, they label him a troublemaker or reject him anyway.
Contrast Will's tone with Sam's tone. How do they speak differently?
Will speaks politely, calmly, and respectfully ("Sir"). Sam speaks rudely, sarcastically, and patronizingly.
How does Sam turn the 15th Amendment into a trap when questioning Will?
He asks Will if he likes it, trying to trick him into looking like a political "troublemaker."
The story is titled "Liars Don't Qualify." Who is the real liar in the room, and what are they lying about?
Sam and Charlie are the real liars because they pretend to follow the law, but they are corruptly abusing their power.
List at least 3 official documents that Will brings with him to prove who he is.
Birth certificate, high school diploma, military discharge papers, or Social Security card.
Explain a real-life Catch-22 that a teenager might face (like applying for a job)
Student answer using an entry-level job, lost glasses, lost ID, etc. where two rules block each other).
Why does the reader feel frustration while reading this story?
Because Will follows all the rules and does everything right, but the officials change the rules on purpose so he loses.
What is the main historical background of this story? What era in U.S. history is it set in?
The Jim Crow era / Civil Rights era (before the Voting Rights Act of 1965).
If Will had answered "Yes" to belonging to an organization, do you think they would have let him vote? Why or why not?
No, because the registrars were determined to keep Black citizens off the voting rolls no matter what he answered.
When Will leaves the courthouse after being rejected, he does not yell or fight back. What does this quiet reaction tell us about who Will is as a person?
It shows he is brave, patient, keeps his self-control, and refuses to let them break his dignity.
If Will had answered "Yes" when Sam asked if he belonged to an organization, how would Sam have used that "Yes" to trick him anyway?
Sam would have asked what group he was in, and if he named a civil rights or political group, Sam would have called him a troublemaker and rejected him.
Why is it dangerous for Will to show his true anger or frustration to Sam and Charlie in that room?
Because Sam and Charlie have all the power and control; if Will gets angry, they could use it as an excuse to kick him out, arrest him, or hurt him.
Why did the white officials make Will read the Declaration of Independence and the 15th Amendment out loud if they already knew they weren't going to let him pass?
They used the documents as a game to mock him, show off their power, and pretend the test was "fair" when it was actually rigged.
Look at the title of the story again: "Liars Don't Qualify." Who is the author (Junius Edwards) really calling a liar at the end of the story?
He is calling Sam and Charlie the real liars, because they pretend to follow the law and protect democracy, but they are actually cheating and lying to stop people from voting.