Wes Moore Blog Chapter 2

Wes Moore Blog Chapter 2

Theme: Role Models

Quote #1: "To Wes, Tony was a certified gangsta" Page 27

The the theme for this chapter is role models. Without a father to look up to, Wes goes to his brother who sells drugs and is involved in gang activity on a daily basis. You can connect this issue back to the absence of a father at a young age. Because Wes has no father to look up to he finds the closest thing to it, his older brother. Also, because there is no father, there is no one to tell Wes that Tony is involved with dangerous activity and that he shouldn't get involved. A bad role model can lead to horrible things.

Quote #2: "Can't, i'm with pops today. Wes would feel a surge of conflicting feelings" Page 30

This quote shows the affect of absence of father and how it leads to bad role models. Because Wes doesn't have a father he becomes jealous when his friends talk about the activities they do with there fathers. This jealousy turns into anger. When Wes becomes angry he wants to be a man about it so he turns it in toughness. This "toughness" brings out a violent side of him. Then, because he has no father, he looks up to his also violent brother tony. Wes follows in his footsteps which lands him in trouble. These series of events all start from one thing, Absence of father/role model. 

Quote #3: "He knew that he had to send a message. Tony flashed through Wes's mind. Tony wanted the best for Wes, but he still felt that part of his mission as a big brother was to toughen him up for the battles Tony knew Wes would have to fight as he got older." 

This is a perfect example of how not having a father figure to look up to as a child leads to bad decisions. Because Wes didn't have anyone to look up to he based his actions an behavior off his brother. Tony, Wes's older brother, is gang affiliated and potentially dangerous. To have a young boy look up to someone who is breaking the law on a daily basis is setting the child up for failure.

Quote #4: "Rule number one: If someone disrespects you, you send a message so fierce that they won't have the chance to do it again" Page 33

This quote is advice that Tony gave Wes when he had a conflict with someone else. Discipline is very important for a kid who's growing up, especially for a child who is without his father. Unfortunately, Wes is being disciplined to handle his business violently, not maturely. Once again this kind of influence from Tony only makes Wes's life harder.

Quote #5: "Wes in the back of one of the cruisers and told the other boys to go home" Page 35

I used to this quote specifically as an example the outcome of a bad role model. Wes was taught a bad mindset by Tony and the outcome was that Wes got arrested. Unfortunately because Wes has no dad to tell him right from wrong, Wes will most likely continue to listen to Tony's advice and get himself into more trouble.