The Westing Game Lesson Plan

In Chapter 13, we learn this about the judge:

"Long before becoming a judge, Josie-Jo Ford had decided to stop smiling. Smiling without good reason was demeaning. A serious face put the smiler on the defensive, a rare smile put a nervous witness at ease. She now bestowed one of her rare smiles on the dressmaker."

Why do you think the judge felt like she needed to stop smiling? What does this tell you about her character?

Each of the details in this quote can be interpreted further in light of what students should know about U.S. history. The judge is an African American woman who has risen to a high level of power. She asserts in Chapter 7 that she is not a "token," but...