The other wes moore
Jodi Snyder
English 101
Beth Stevens
07/18/2014
The Other Wes Moore Can two men with very similar backgrounds grow up to be completely different? Wes Moore takes us on a journey back to his childhood as well as the childhood of a man with the same name. The author Wes describes how the two men, grew up just blocks from each other, both surrounded with drugs and crime. Wes was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of John Hopkins, army veteran and well renowned speaker around the world teaching people about his story. The other Wes Moore was spending the rest of his in prison. When Wes learned about the other man with the same name, from the same neighborhood and the fact he was in prison, Wes was intrigued. Wes decided he needed to find out more about this man. He started writing this Wes Moore in prison. Not too long after, he found himself at the prison, finally meeting the other Wes Moore. In the book Wes tells us about the conversations the other Wes and he had. Talking about each other’s lives, the similarities and the differences resulting in the book, “The Other Wes Moore”. In the introduction Wes states that, “Our stories are obviously specific to our two lives, but I hope they will illuminate the crucial inflection points in every life, the sudden moments of decision where our paths diverge and our fates are sealed.” (xi) He helps us realize that all it takes is one split decision could change our life forever. That you can easily stumble down the right path, even the right one. (xiv) It all starts with two young black boys. How they both ended up fatherless and with single mothers. Them both ending up in trouble with the law at about the same age. Wes explores the role of the mothers’ of himself and the other Wes. He remembers how his mother took his sisters and him to live with their grandparents after the death of his father when he was very young. He thinks about how strict his mother and grandparents were. Wes remains thankful for that
English 101
Beth Stevens
07/18/2014
The Other Wes Moore Can two men with very similar backgrounds grow up to be completely different? Wes Moore takes us on a journey back to his childhood as well as the childhood of a man with the same name. The author Wes describes how the two men, grew up just blocks from each other, both surrounded with drugs and crime. Wes was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of John Hopkins, army veteran and well renowned speaker around the world teaching people about his story. The other Wes Moore was spending the rest of his in prison. When Wes learned about the other man with the same name, from the same neighborhood and the fact he was in prison, Wes was intrigued. Wes decided he needed to find out more about this man. He started writing this Wes Moore in prison. Not too long after, he found himself at the prison, finally meeting the other Wes Moore. In the book Wes tells us about the conversations the other Wes and he had. Talking about each other’s lives, the similarities and the differences resulting in the book, “The Other Wes Moore”. In the introduction Wes states that, “Our stories are obviously specific to our two lives, but I hope they will illuminate the crucial inflection points in every life, the sudden moments of decision where our paths diverge and our fates are sealed.” (xi) He helps us realize that all it takes is one split decision could change our life forever. That you can easily stumble down the right path, even the right one. (xiv) It all starts with two young black boys. How they both ended up fatherless and with single mothers. Them both ending up in trouble with the law at about the same age. Wes explores the role of the mothers’ of himself and the other Wes. He remembers how his mother took his sisters and him to live with their grandparents after the death of his father when he was very young. He thinks about how strict his mother and grandparents were. Wes remains thankful for that
Cited: Moore, Wes. “The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates”. New York: Spiegel & Grau, 2011 Print