In the eighth chapter "Surrounded" Wes Moore 1 and 2 experience the final major changes in adult hood that will effect both of them forever. As growing adults their lives no longer share many similarities. There were two common themes of importance of education and crimes.
Quote 1: "Wes was walking down a street, Philly cheesesteak in one hand and a new pair of blue jeans in the other."(p.153)
-Wes 2 and his brother Tony were currently the most wanted people in Maryland. They were two key suspects in a robbery and murder of a police officer. Before they were arrested it was Wes's family that had to deal with the police. Meanwhile Wes and his brother could be found chilling in Philadelphia. Wes and his brother were very inconsiderate to allow his family to face ridicule alone. This makes Wes and his brother seem selfish. This goes against Wes's 2 ideas of living a more healthy and honest life.
Quote 2: "Maybe it was because he'd never thought long term about his life at all " (p.157)
-As Wes finally receives his life sentence in jail he reflects on how he ended up in that situation. It wasn't until Wes 2 received an extreme consequence that he thought about his life in a long term view. This is very different from Wes who as early as high school began to think about what he wanted to do with his life. He even states "I started to think seriously about how I could become the person I wanted to be." This shows another main resin for why the two boys turned out so different. Wes 2 didn't even know the type of questions he needed to ask himself. This shows a lack of adult throughout his life. Wes 2 didn't have the support like Wes had or people to tell him about life.
-As Wes finally receives his life sentence in jail he reflects on how he ended up in that situation. It wasn't until Wes 2 received an extreme consequence that he thought about his life in a long term view. This is very different from Wes who as early as high school began to think about what he wanted to do with his life. He even states "I started to think seriously about how I could become the person I wanted to be." This shows another main resin for why the two boys turned out so different. Wes 2 didn't even know the type of questions he needed to ask himself. This shows a lack of adult throughout his life. Wes 2 didn't have the support like Wes had or people to tell him about life.
Quote 3: "Early losses condition you to believe that short-term plans are always smarter"(p.157)
-Once again Wes 2 was taught the rules of the "street." Even though these rules helped him earn money it was beliefs such as this that didn't support living a healthy life. Because Wes 2 was only thinking about his life in short-term it would be hard for Wes to truly learn from his mistakes.
-Once again Wes 2 was taught the rules of the "street." Even though these rules helped him earn money it was beliefs such as this that didn't support living a healthy life. Because Wes 2 was only thinking about his life in short-term it would be hard for Wes to truly learn from his mistakes.
Quote 4: "He felt very alone. He sighed deeply. A sudden apathy sapped him" (p.157)
- As Wes 2 receives his sentence of life in prison these are the expressions he feels. He realizes that the odds aren't in his favor and the jury is most likely against him. This shows how the odds are against many black males even outside of the court room. Many people feel scared of them no one takes the time to hear their story of feel sympathy towards them. This is important because Wes is also a black male and could have easily met a similar fate that Wes 2 did.
- As Wes 2 receives his sentence of life in prison these are the expressions he feels. He realizes that the odds aren't in his favor and the jury is most likely against him. This shows how the odds are against many black males even outside of the court room. Many people feel scared of them no one takes the time to hear their story of feel sympathy towards them. This is important because Wes is also a black male and could have easily met a similar fate that Wes 2 did.
Quote 5: "I stared at the young man...His bright eyes and straight back demanded attention.The confidence in his stride was something that...I did not have yet"(p.170)
-Wes states this as he sees a young man in Africa who has just gone through a rights of passage. He has moved from childhood and is now considered a man. Even though he is young he has the maturity of a man. Wes now has an example of what a man does and is supposed to look like. This is important because he eventually needs to become a man. It is this example that is crucial to the development to young men.
-Wes states this as he sees a young man in Africa who has just gone through a rights of passage. He has moved from childhood and is now considered a man. Even though he is young he has the maturity of a man. Wes now has an example of what a man does and is supposed to look like. This is important because he eventually needs to become a man. It is this example that is crucial to the development to young men.
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