The Other Wes Moore: A Tale Of Manhood

T he Other Wes Moore; A Tale of Manhood

In The Other Wes Moore: One Name,Two Fates the author, Wes Moore introduces readers to the other Wes and his childhood self. While sharing similar origins, the two men present themselves as adults in two very different ways. Wes Moore tries to explain the difference between the other Wes and himself, by exploring their childhood and how they both came into their manhood. Both learn from their role models how to be perceived as a man. For the other Wes that means being aggressive and intimidating, while Wes Moore learns to be subtle and use his presence to dominate a situation. In The Other Wes Moore, Moore shows that manhood in the United States is about learning how to present oneself to the world
These ideals are relayed by Wes, when he was younger when he said “I tried to copy his walk, his expressions. I was his main man. He was my protector,” this shows that some of the basic ideals of U.S manhood are taught to the children (Moore 11). But because of the aggression often associated with man hood in the United States “manhood [is] a trigger for apprehension,” for those who interact with the young men, such as mothers who them attempt to mold their young child (Moore 170). Often though it is a mixture of culture and father figures that ends up molding what it means to be a man for a young child. But as the other Wes points out “Your father wasn’t there because he couldn’t be, my father wasn’t there because he chose not to be ” making a comment on how the lack of father figure can have a negative influence as well when forming a man (Moore
For the other Wes, he lacked a father figure and was only exposed to his brother Tony’s aggressive version of manliness which he emulated through his adult life. This persona of manliness helped the other Wes by giving him the attitude required to fill the niche of working the streets which allowed him to provide for himself and his family. Wes Moore meanwhile had many different father figures in his adolescence and they all taught him the importance of showing his manliness through his presence. Both men incorporate the ideals of U.S manliness, be finding ways to show their dominance and gather respect from those around them. Over all The Other Wes Moore explores how one’s man hood effects their life, and how different types of manhood can incorporate the same