The Other Wes More: One Name, Two Fates: Wes Moore
Jasmine Reese
Professor Rosen
Contemporary Literacies
Questions- Are we products of our environment or products of our expectations?
Being raised in any environment is just a small portion of one's identity. I found that in the beginning segment of this Ted Talk with Wes Moore, to me it exemplified the idea of identity. Wes was discussing this idea in which he discussed his book. He stated that "What's inside of a book is all authors. Those are the author's words and the author's thoughts. What's on the outside the cover, the title, that's a lot of publishers because that's the publisher's chance to market, and when the publishers start having conversations with their authors about what they want the cover to look like, and the title to look like in many cases it's ceremonial." I believe that this is an example of how individuals are stereotyped or judged by society because of their background. In addition, it is about what's on the inside not typically the outside. This symbolizes that a person can be raised in a rough environment but have a loving home and family, but limited opportunity. For example, a person can be a product of their environment because that is where they have developed memories, obstacles, and their identity. If a person is raised in a environment where it consists of negative societal factors such as criminal activity, drugs, abuse, abandonment, family issues, and traumatic experiences, would greatly impact them but doesn't define that person. Although a person can have many of these societal defects, it is what you make of it, as it will mold you into becoming something greater than what you are accustomed to.
What does this mean to me?
I believe that we are in fact both a product of our environment as well as our expectations, because no matter what your surroundings and past consisted of, it shouldn't define your chances of success because of where you are from and who you are. It simply defines as what you make of your future despite the environment and exceeding your expectations of success.
Another portion of the segment that was significant was where Wes discussed the tragedy of the murder of an off-duty police officer who was murdered during a robbery. Wes explained how he followed the case and found out that one of the suspects in the case was in fact named Wes Moore as well. The significance with this story is that they were also from the same neighborhood just blocks away from each other. He explained the narrative of how with both of them carrying the same name, from the same neighborhood, but are hurdling down two different paths. He stated, "how do you get two kids with similar backgrounds and similar circumstances who end up going into two completely different places?" One was off to school on a scholarship while the other on his way to serve a life sentence at a maximum-security prison.
The other Wes Moore was based on the individual who committed the crime in which the other Wes has developed a connection with for about 8 years. I also believe that the two factors Wes mentioned are essential in raising a child and answering the question product of environment or product of expectations.
One of the factors he mentioned was education. It was interesting when he spoke about how it's not just about the diploma you get to hang up on display to signify your accomplishments, but about the shift in friends and networking that will allow us to become products of our expectations and even exceeding those expectations becoming successful.
The other factor Wes mentions is environment. From my perspective, I come from a rough environment here in Jersey City that consist of violence, drugs, and gangs. However, it has not influenced me to become a part of it. Instead, it motivated me to identify the issues within the environment, in order to possibly make a change in my community in the future especially for the youth.
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