How are both Wes Moore's alike? Give some background information that discusses the similarities between the two men and their respective histories.
The two Wes Moore’s are similar not only because they grew up in the same neighborhood, but because the boys had similar stories as they were growing up as kids. Both kids’ did not have an ideal family situation at home, both with strong mother figures and both having to deal with growing up without a solid male role model. Their communities both had impacts on their lives, with the people inside the community influencing their decisions they made in life. While the author’s mother chose to move out of Baltimore to avoid the chaos during that time, she felt moving to New York would help provide more opportunities for her young son. The other Wes was caught up within the violent riots and protest that were occurring in Baltimore.
You also see the impact of their siblings, and how their influence helped shaping the men the two boys become. The most important influence on the author’s live seems to be his sister Nikki, while Tony is Wes’ influence. Nikki was a positive older role model to have for the author while the other Wes looked up to his drug dealing brother. Both had run into trouble while they were younger, both given second chances, and this is where they begin to differ. Neither of the boys enjoyed going to school, and would rather focus on the things the enjoyed or how to make money. With two boys with the same name, living during the same time in similar situations, it’s hard to understand how different the two become as they get older.
Discuss a turning point in both boys' lives, where they seemingly learned from a mistake and took some action to try and correct it. What decision or action did they take to "straighten up" their lives?
As the boys become older they begin to drift down different paths on their way to becoming adults. One key event that both boys had dealt with was their respective run-ins with the police. The author got caught hanging around with someone who really doesn’t care about him, who pushed drugs and started trouble. When the two get caught spray painting, the cops let him off. This is where the author is faced with a situation in his life, and he chooses to learn from it, not repeat it. This is where family values come into play; because the author’s biggest fear about being arrested had been to fear his mother. This shows the type of person the author is, not wanting to disappoint the woman that has loved and cared for him. From that moment on, wanting to avoid confrontations with the police, the author goes on to go to military school to become successful in that. Even though he struggled and wanted to quit many times, after realizing how much his mother really does for him. This is when I believe he really “straightens up”.
The other Wes Moore had many encounters with the police as he was growing up. When he was younger growing up in Baltimore, he had a confrontation with a kid who had punched him after getting into an argument over a football game. Furious about being disrespected in front of his friends, he goes home to return with a knife to try to get revenge on the boy who embarrassed him. Cops had arrived after hearing complaints from the neighbors about a scuffle. The cops intercepted Wes, knife in hand, on his way to hurt the boy. Unlike the author, Wes did not learn from being arrested. Many of the people he looked up to, the dealers and gangsters, had reputations for getting arrested multiple times. Avoiding his older brother’s advice, Wes became involved in the drug game. He flaunted his wealth, living the street life, with all the money, homies, and ladies, all proof of his work. Even after getting involved with shootings Wes wouldn’t learn. I believe the lack of family structure and values had been a major reason as to why Wes had such a troubled past. I don’t believe Wes truly straightened up until he had already been in jails for a crime he’d serve a life for.
What affect did these boys' parents have on their personal development? Discuss how each's mom and dad may have influenced them. Who was around? How did they help or hurt their son?
The author’s mother was his foundation into the person he later becomes. While he was growing up he had three people in his family he could look up to, his older sister, his mother and his father. He really loved his father and had fond memories of him when he was younger. Unfortunately, his father was killed from being poorly treated at a local hospital. Now the burden of raising a family rests on the shoulders of his mother. Although his mother seems strict, what she is trying to do is steer her son down the right path into manhood. Wes didn’t understand why his mother was so determined to get him through school. When his grades began to slip his mom’s only choice was to send him to military school. At first he couldn’t believe it. He felt betrayed by his mother, wondering how she could send he son to military school. Not until he becomes and adults and recollects on his past does he understand the sacrifices his mother made.
The other Wes Moore had a lot less structure to his family. You could almost feel why Wes was so at home with his friends out and about instead of at home. His home was broken, although his mother was a strong women like the author’s, she did not play a big enough part in his life to help him make decisions in life. His father was a junkie and played very little part in his life growing up. It is hard for an inner city kid to grow up without a father figure in his life. The person he looked up to was his older brother Tony, who was a major drug dealer around their Baltimore neighborhood. Wes wanted to be just like his brother, with the money, the respect, the nice gear. Tony always feared that Wes would want to join him in dealing drugs, so he told him at a very young age that he doesn’t want to get involved with what he was doing and wanted him to go to school. I feel like Tony is least at fault for Wes because he was the most concerned and tried his best just to keep Wes on the right track. I feel like his father, not only not being around, but because his reputation as a drug addict hurt him the most, not having someone to guide a boy through becoming a man.
What did this book teach you about human behavior? Think about life, change, and the idea of fate. Are there similar patterns between these two boys? Are these patterns found in all people? (Get philosophical.)
I believe that this book helps prove my belief that everyone determines their own destiny; it’s all based on what you really want and what you set your mind too. The story gives you a good view of human behavior, and how your outlook can change your fate. Two boys, in very similar conditions, manage to take two totally different paths in life. Such a drastic difference between the two, one a Rhodes Scholar, author, military vet and college graduate, while the other is labeled a murderer. As you talk to the other Wes you can tell deep down they aren’t too different, you can still sense the little boy growing up in Baltimore whom unfortunately didn’t realize his wrong doings until it was too late.
It amazes me that still til this day, young kids are so naive and often don’t realize the complications of their actions. Humans’ tend to be influenced rather easy, instead of going with their heads or hearts. The choice to do right or wrong is found in all people, but it’s how they choose to react that determines the type of person you are. Every person does not start off in the same situation, but your fate is determined by what you make of you opportunities in life. If you choose not to learn from your mistakes, as Wes did, your history is bound to repeat itself. I feel like your ability to bounce back and learn from your mistakes means a lot for the character you have.
Crititque: What did you like about the book? What didn't you like about the book. Give a brief book review that explains your reaction, and if you thought the book was influential.
I must say, I’m not much of a reader, but this movie was not only a quick read but fast paced and drew me in more and more. The imagery used by the author gave you a visual of what was occurring in the book. His description of the people with in the book not only gave you and image but an idea of who the person is and who he or she thinks. Similar to question 4, I really enjoyed the human element of the book, showing how your actions and errors pave a way to your future. It helps disprove that you are a product of your environment and helps highlight how you’re a product of your decisions. There were very few things I didn’t like about the book, but one thing I did not enjoy was having to determine who’s story I was reading about. With both of the boy’s being named Wes, during a break or new chapter it may require you to tract back and find out who you were reading about.
If I had to write a review of this book, I would give it a 4.5/5. This book was very entertaining, making every page wanting you to continue reading. Wes Moore does an excellent job writing this book, not only going in depth on his side of the story, but also gathering the other Wes Moore’s information. You can see the effort and time he put into this book, with countless hours spent visiting the Jessup Correctional Facility. If I had not read the introduction, my reaction would have been a lot stronger for the conclusion of the story.
I believe this book is very influential, to any young man growing up without a solid family structure, growing up within the city, you can often relate to the boys in the book. To anyone who thinks their lives are too hard or stressful to make anything of it, you should be thankful for what you have, and only have the things that put you down be a driving force towards change. There is someone in a very similar situation to you, and your goal should be to strive and be more successful.
To say that we over reacted, initally, is obsured. I couldn't imagine having a family on the plane, or being in New York that day and dealing with that mess. The country sprang into action, and did what was on all the peoples minds. "It may had failed to advance Bin Laden's goal of promoting radical islamic caliphate, but when we saw the iconic towers falling to the ground.....we became unhinged with fear." The quote is so true, which goes back to the article I sent you about low tourism in the post 9-11 US. People became afraid to fly, take trains, go to work, it put a stop to our country and economy. But that was Al-Quieda and Bin Laden's plan all along. They wanted to instill fear into the people and that is what they suceeded with.
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