CRM in Short Stories and Music
Part One
Read "Liars Don't Qualify" by Junius Edwards. As you read, think about the motivations behind each of the characters. Consider the emotions of the characters, particularly the protagonist Will Harris. Most of all, follow the Words of the Wiser of Atticus Finch and try to put yourself in Will Harris's shoes. Can you imagine being in Will Harris's position? Consider...
Annoyed at first for no one paying attention and caring. Thinking that he would do anything and not be stopped by anything they said to him. Also getting very annoyed that he was answering the difficult as well as easy questions perfectly and with ease.
Feeling like he had a right to vote, especially because we was a veteran and had fought for his country. He was feeling disrespected because he had risked his life for the country, he should be allowed the simple liberty to vote.
The discrimination with police and African Americans, the sort of racism that lets one race get away with something, and the other one being convicted for the same thing or a smaller crime. Or like with rape stories, how they always find a way to blame the woman.
In the introduction to the story, these questions are posed:
They wanted to try to scare him away as much as possible, asking are you sure, again and again. Then they try to ask him any possible question to catch him answering something wrong, even though he knows so much. They were never going to let him vote anyways from the beginning. They call him a liar for the tiniest misunderstanding, just asking and asking to try and trip him up.
Asking if he's intelligent enough to know what kind of a thing he's doing, first off. It shouldn't even have to a qualification, though.
Makes them less eager to register, and more wanting to get out of there.
Very professionally, very carefully.
He was done with America being called the land of the free when as he who had fought for the country couldn't even be granted the right of voting.
Not quite, but he's definitely extremely frustrated with it, and doesn't see it as a great place for him as he used to.
I would have tried my best to continue on as he did, but I probably would've stood up and yelled at them for being racist and unfair, but that's from my perspective looking back on it now, and i'm not a veteran.
Jot down notes about your answers to the above questions in your online notebook.
Then, together with your partner...
Part Two
Research Civil Rights Movement Protest Music.
A song that makes a clear statement, and something you can sing with passion.
Part Three
With your partner, compose a "found" protest song. Base your song off of what you've learned about music from the Civil Rights Era. Use only words that you find in the short story "Liars Don't Qualify." You may write particularly about the characters or the issues in the short story, or you can expand into other areas of the Civil Rights Movement, but use the words of the short story to create your protest song.
What do you want
They asked to my face
I'm aware they see me
As a disgrace
My pride was not the only thing they hurt
I tried to keep my face straight
I kept telling myself I'll take anything
I'll take anything to get it done
But liars don't qualify
I want to vote, that's all
I said
You got a job?
Yes sir
Are you being smart?
No sir
Just say what they want to hear
I tried to keep my face straight
I kept telling myself I'll take anything
I'll take anything to get it done
But liars don't qualify
Read "Liars Don't Qualify" by Junius Edwards. As you read, think about the motivations behind each of the characters. Consider the emotions of the characters, particularly the protagonist Will Harris. Most of all, follow the Words of the Wiser of Atticus Finch and try to put yourself in Will Harris's shoes. Can you imagine being in Will Harris's position? Consider...
- What do you think was going through his head?
Annoyed at first for no one paying attention and caring. Thinking that he would do anything and not be stopped by anything they said to him. Also getting very annoyed that he was answering the difficult as well as easy questions perfectly and with ease.
- How do you think he was feeling -- as a young man, as an African-American person, as a veteran?
Feeling like he had a right to vote, especially because we was a veteran and had fought for his country. He was feeling disrespected because he had risked his life for the country, he should be allowed the simple liberty to vote.
- Does Will Harris's experience make you think of anything you see in the news or other media today?
The discrimination with police and African Americans, the sort of racism that lets one race get away with something, and the other one being convicted for the same thing or a smaller crime. Or like with rape stories, how they always find a way to blame the woman.
In the introduction to the story, these questions are posed:
- What is the purpose of their (Charlie and Sam) questions and comments?
They wanted to try to scare him away as much as possible, asking are you sure, again and again. Then they try to ask him any possible question to catch him answering something wrong, even though he knows so much. They were never going to let him vote anyways from the beginning. They call him a liar for the tiniest misunderstanding, just asking and asking to try and trip him up.
- Why all the questions about Will Harris’s job?
Asking if he's intelligent enough to know what kind of a thing he's doing, first off. It shouldn't even have to a qualification, though.
- What is the effect of the interrogation on each of the participants?
Makes them less eager to register, and more wanting to get out of there.
- What do you think of the way Will Harris conducted himself?
Very professionally, very carefully.
- What do you think of the end of the story, and Harris’s encounter with the American flag?
He was done with America being called the land of the free when as he who had fought for the country couldn't even be granted the right of voting.
- Has he lost his love of country?
Not quite, but he's definitely extremely frustrated with it, and doesn't see it as a great place for him as he used to.
- Were you in his place, would you have lost it?
I would have tried my best to continue on as he did, but I probably would've stood up and yelled at them for being racist and unfair, but that's from my perspective looking back on it now, and i'm not a veteran.
Jot down notes about your answers to the above questions in your online notebook.
Then, together with your partner...
Part Two
Research Civil Rights Movement Protest Music.
- TOP TEN CIVIL RIGHTS SONGS
- CIVIL RIGHTS ERA PROTEST SONGS
- THE MUSIC OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
- “PEOPLE GET READY”: MUSIC AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT OF THE 1950S AND 1960S
A song that makes a clear statement, and something you can sing with passion.
Part Three
With your partner, compose a "found" protest song. Base your song off of what you've learned about music from the Civil Rights Era. Use only words that you find in the short story "Liars Don't Qualify." You may write particularly about the characters or the issues in the short story, or you can expand into other areas of the Civil Rights Movement, but use the words of the short story to create your protest song.
What do you want
They asked to my face
I'm aware they see me
As a disgrace
My pride was not the only thing they hurt
I tried to keep my face straight
I kept telling myself I'll take anything
I'll take anything to get it done
But liars don't qualify
I want to vote, that's all
I said
You got a job?
Yes sir
Are you being smart?
No sir
Just say what they want to hear
I tried to keep my face straight
I kept telling myself I'll take anything
I'll take anything to get it done
But liars don't qualify