Chapter 3

The Search for Belonging

“He sensed my frustration at living in mutually exclusive worlds […] I was becoming too “rich” for the kids from the neighborhood and too “poor” for the kids at school. “ Pg. 53

Caught between two very different worlds, Wes Moore struggles to find belonging and acceptance within his two communities. It is clear that the society Wes grew up in was highly stratified, demonstrating that individuals place expectations on others in order for them to belong in a place, halting processes of self discovery, or even self acceptance. Humans look to be part of larger groups and communities, and being unable to be involved in an accepting community can lead to people feeling worthless or unneeded.

Drugs and Dangerous Communities 

“The mayhem spread from the gangs to the rest of the neighborhood. Everyone felt threatened. Everyone was defensive. From the early 1980s to the end of the decade, there was an almost 61 percent jump in the murder rate.” Pg. 51

The Bronx is further described by Wes Moore as a dangerous place due to the presence of drugs. The statistics above detail the dramatic effects of the presence of drugs and how they can have a widespread effect on entire communities, tearing people and places apart and endangering all. The people of the Bronx are unable to feel safe in their city, all simply because a few individuals spread the usage of drugs, demonstrating the devastating toll they take on communities.

“He didn’t bother thinking about Tony’s warnings, that no matter what job or position you took within it, this was a game for keeps- you could be in jail or dead in a matter of months.” Pg. 59

The “other” Wes makes a decision to engage himself in the drug trade, regardless to his older brother’s warnings. The doomed future of this Wes clearly illustrates that small actions can accumulate into larger issues, and any degree of involvement with such activities puts lives at risk. Wes, like many other kids, saw drug dealing as a way of earning money, yet this snowballing processes demonstrates the constant desire to increase material wealth, and the fact that the idea of failing sometimes is unseen by humans. The young boys believe that they will prevail regardless to the threat of death. 

“ …The drug- smoking it, feeling its effects, recovering from it- made him forget everything else. And he understood, faintly, how addictive that feeling could be, and how easy it would be to make some money off selling that feeling to people who needed it.” Pg. 62

The “other” Wes clearly sees that the addictive effects of drugs can make for easy money. This bleakly portrays that some people take advantage of others simply for material profits, and use drug addicts as a way to make their own money, destroying the lives of others to only slightly better their own.

“We were starting to feel the fear that crept around the edges of our consciousness at dusk […] Never look people in the eye. Don’t smile, it makes you look weak. If someone yells for you, particularly after dark, just keep walking.” Pg. 51

Living in the Bronx, a particularly dangerous area during the time, Wes Moore demonstrates the conditions that many children must face. The serious way in which he lists the rules of simply walking the streets shows the danger of his home city. Although merely children, Wes and his friends cannot feel safe in their neighborhood, and must adapt to living under the conditions in order to survive. Faced with such conditions, people must learn to adapt to living at risk, all to simply survive. 

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Life Choices

“Tony felt his brother’s life could be saved, even if he felt his own had already, at age fourteen, passed the point of no return.” Pg. 27

This quote illustrates the importance of life choices, and how such decisions could affect the lives of individuals. Tony, the Other Wes’s brother, can see that his individual decisions landed him in dangerous situations, whereas his brother had not yet faced the difficult decisions Tony had to make. The sad reality is that Tony realizes that he could have had a better life if his decisions had been better. Realizing his brother’s innocence induces Tony to support Wes to make the correct life choices and to stay out of bad situations in order to obtain a better life.

Importance of Role Models

“But the tough façade is just a ways to hide a deeper pain or depression that kids don’t know how to deal with. A bottomless chasm of insecurity and self-doubt that gnaws at them. Young boys are more likely to believe in themselves if they know that there’s someone, somewhere, who shares that belief.” Pg. 28

The importance of having a role model is emphasized greatly by Wes Moore. As stated, without an inspiring and supportive force, children are not able to feel valued, or important. Many of the young boys Moore refers too lack proper support from parents or mentors, and are unable to deal with the tough situations they must face in the dangerous conditions they live in. Although individuals must make decisions themselves, proper support and a degree of nurture may lead to better decisions being made, and the creation of a morally good human being, who will not involve themselves in dangers such as substance abuse or violence.

Single Mothers

“My mother slept in the living room to stand guard, she said. She didn’t want me and my sisters to be the first people a trespasser ran into if they entered the house. She was determined to protect us.” Pg. 36

Wes Moore bleakly portrays the difficulties single mothers face, especially those living in poverty. It is the sad truth that many women are abused, and forced to fend for themselves and their children alone in a hostile and dangerous world. Although demonstrating the difficulty of being a single mother, this passage also describes the deep love Wes’s mother had for him and his siblings. Regardless to their tough living conditions, Joy Moore is willing to do anything to protect her children, displaying the strength and love that many women show towards their children.

Honor

““Rule number one: If someone disrespects you, you send a message so fierce that they won’t have the chance to do it again,” It was Murphy Homes law and Wes took it to heart.”

The Other Wes is guided by his brother to believe that he must seek revenge from anybody who disrespects him, eventually leading to Wes’s first arrest at age eight. This “rule” that Wes so strongly believes in portrays that the idea of honor is prevalent and expected in his neighborhood. Although they might not want to, young boys and men are expected to defend their honor in the culture that Wes grew up in. This may lead to foolish decisions being made, endangering all of those involved, and their families. The importance of the defense of honor is put into question in this passage, as it is clear that consequences must also be considered.

Equality

“We were all enclosed by the same fence, bumping into one another, fighting, celebrating. Showing one another our best and worst, revealing ourselves-even our cruelty and crimes- as if that fence had created a circle of trust.” Pg. 45

In a world full of racial and ethnic discrimination, Wes Moore demonstrates that socio-economic status and pasts should not shape interactions with others. The basketball court is portrayed as and equalizer, wherein people are free to be themselves and leave behind any worries they have. Somehow, people of different backgrounds and beliefs managed to come together and enjoy each others company, demonstrating that while conflict and danger exists, it is very possible for people to come together and trust each other, and accept each others’ differences. 

Chapter One

Chapter 1 Quotes/Themes

Racial Prejudice

“My father had entered the hospital seeking help. But his face was unshaven, his clothes disheveled, his name unfamiliar, his address not in an affluent area. The hospital looked at him askance, insulted him with ridiculous questions, and basically told him to fend for himself. Now, my mother had to plan his funeral.” Pg. 14

Illustrating the clear unfairness of the situation of his father, Wes Moore shows that discrimination and prejudices put our society at risk, and are major issues that are still faced to this day. Wes’s father was denied proper medical care because of his appearance and the stereotypes associated with them, leading to his death. This case sends a particularly powerful message, implying that no person should be seen as lesser or unworthy based upon their appearance and background.

Domestic Violence and Women’s Rights

“She was caught in a familiar trap for young women and girls- the fantasy that she alone could change her man.” Pg. 9

Moore highlights that abusive fathers not only take a toll on their children, but also on their wives. Both of the mothers of the two Wes Moores experienced abusive relationships, demonstrating the commonality of such horrible experiences for women in a male dominated world. This reveals the tragedies of domestic abuse, as well as the sad fact that not all people can, or want to be changed. Women can be in danger in their own homes, and may believe that they can fix such situations, or that they will become better; however, this is not always true.

Absent Fathers

“Your father wasn‘t there because he couldn‘t be, my father wasn‘t there because he chose not to be. We‘re going to mourn their absence in different ways.” Pg. 3

While the Other Wes’s father left his family, the author Wes Moore’s father died. This prominent difference between the two Wes Moores has clearly played a major role in shaping their different lives. The reasons for abandonment clearly have different emotional tolls- although death being traumatic for a young child, an uninterested father sends a stronger message of abandonment, lowering self-worth. The Other Wes’s father chose not to be present, and he clearly stays bitter over this, whereas the first Wes can know that his father did not choose to leave him. 

The Importance of Education

“The letter Mary was hiding explained that the federal budget for Basic Educational Opportunity Grants – or Pell Grants- was being slashed, and her grant was being terminated...Mary realized the letter effectively closed the door on her college aspirations. She had already completed sixteen hours of college credits and would get no closer toward graduation.” Pg. 17

This quote demonstrates the strong correlation that exists between education and success. Mary, mother of two, realizes that without a proper education, she will not be able to obtain a better job and provide for her family. In an increasingly competitive world, college degrees are becoming necessary to obtain a well paying job.  Yet another controversy brought up includes education funding. It is unjust that a lack of funds can destroy dreams of obtaining an education and a better future, and a major question we face today is how to make education widely accessible and affordable to all?

“Mary was only a kid, but she made a pact with herself at that moment: she would get her education and leave the neighborhood no matter what it took.” Pg. 19

Growing up in a dilapidated neighborhood, education acted as a means of escaping for a young Mary, mother of “the other” Wes Moore. This quote illustrates the fact that education can save a person, providing individuals with more opportunities for the future.  Education offers individuals control over their lives, and the ability to work hard and strive towards meeting their goals, thus bettering their futures.