Wes Moore Blog Chapter 3
Theme: Fitting in
Quote #1: "My mother saw Riverdale as a haven, a place where I could escape my neighborhood and open my horizons. But for me, it was where I got lost." Page 48
Wes attends a upper class public school that his mom is making him go to. For Wes, he has a hard time fitting in. The school is predominately white and Wes is from a predominately black neighborhood. Wes feels awkward and out of place because he thinks his friends will make fun of him for attending a preppy school. Also, being the minority at his school is awkward because he feels people look down on him. Fitting in is important because its necessary to have friends that care about you while you're growing up.
Quote #2: "How y'all like it up there at that white school?" Page 49
This is example of Wes's friends judging him based on the school he goes to. Wes feels like because of the school he goes to he doesn't fit in regardless.
Quote #3 :"Wes knew all about weed but he never actually tried it. He cautiously put the rolled up joint to his mouth and inhaled." page 60
This quote is a good example of the other Wes trying to fit in because him and his friend were with older guys so Wes felt the need to give into peer pressure and do drugs and skip school to fit in. When around older kids, younger kids want to do whatever it takes to be "cool", they will try anything and in this case Wes tried drugs and alcohol to fit in. Wes's father was non existent so Wes didn't have anyone to lay down the law of do's and dont's. Not having a father figure can lead to bad decisions because the child doesn't develop respect for other adult males. For example when Wes comes home he just ignores his mothers boyfriend and goes right upstairs without conversation.
Quote #4: "Besides watching Tony, Wes's first real interaction with drugs had taken place a few months earlier" Page 59
This quote shows that because Tony is someone he looks up to he tries to fit in with the wrong people. Because Wes is without a father and he so he sticks with Tony, Wes finds himself trying to be cool for people who are violent and do drugs. I wonder what Wes's view on drugs would be if he had a father who was there for Wes and made sure Wes stayed out of trouble. Instead, Wes has someone who encourages drugs and glorifies violence.
Quote #5: "...and how easy it would be to make some money off selling that feeling to people who needed it" , "There was definitely money to be made" page 62
This quote shows some of the consequences of trying to "fit in". Selling drugs is highly illegal, dangerous, and leads to a life that usually results in prison. Wes's life seems to be in falling in a domino effect. Because his fathers gone he looks up to Tony, because he looks up to Tony he becomes involved with drugs and violence, then Wes starts hanging with the wrong people trying to act cool because they do it. Soon, Wes starts hanging out with them long enough that he alters his brain to think that it's a good idea to sell drugs. Soon after that Wes finds himself in trouble with the law which then starts a painful cycle that only ends when he gets that life sentence.
This quote is a good example of the other Wes trying to fit in because him and his friend were with older guys so Wes felt the need to give into peer pressure and do drugs and skip school to fit in. When around older kids, younger kids want to do whatever it takes to be "cool", they will try anything and in this case Wes tried drugs and alcohol to fit in. Wes's father was non existent so Wes didn't have anyone to lay down the law of do's and dont's. Not having a father figure can lead to bad decisions because the child doesn't develop respect for other adult males. For example when Wes comes home he just ignores his mothers boyfriend and goes right upstairs without conversation.
Quote #4: "Besides watching Tony, Wes's first real interaction with drugs had taken place a few months earlier" Page 59
This quote shows that because Tony is someone he looks up to he tries to fit in with the wrong people. Because Wes is without a father and he so he sticks with Tony, Wes finds himself trying to be cool for people who are violent and do drugs. I wonder what Wes's view on drugs would be if he had a father who was there for Wes and made sure Wes stayed out of trouble. Instead, Wes has someone who encourages drugs and glorifies violence.
Quote #5: "...and how easy it would be to make some money off selling that feeling to people who needed it" , "There was definitely money to be made" page 62
This quote shows some of the consequences of trying to "fit in". Selling drugs is highly illegal, dangerous, and leads to a life that usually results in prison. Wes's life seems to be in falling in a domino effect. Because his fathers gone he looks up to Tony, because he looks up to Tony he becomes involved with drugs and violence, then Wes starts hanging with the wrong people trying to act cool because they do it. Soon, Wes starts hanging out with them long enough that he alters his brain to think that it's a good idea to sell drugs. Soon after that Wes finds himself in trouble with the law which then starts a painful cycle that only ends when he gets that life sentence.
No comments:
Post a Comment