Title Justification Paper #1

The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore

Title Justification Paper #1

         The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore chronicles the lives of two men named Wes Moore. Part one on the book, "Fathers and Angels", describes the relationships both the Wes Moores had with their fathers throughout their childhoods. The first couple chapters of the book also reveal to the reader both Wes's mothers attempting to direct the boys as their "angels" while facing life changing experiences. Wes Moore titled part one of The Other Wes Moore, "Fathers and Angels" to show the roles of parents in a child's life.

The title, "Fathers and Angels" is appropriate for the author’s purpose because it demonstrates the relationships of the Wes' and their fathers. Contrasting experiences where the author talks about happy memories about his father, while describing the other Wes as having barely any memories at all. The Wes' know that their fathers' absences were quite different,  “Your father wasn‘t there because he couldn‘t be, my father wasn‘t there because he chose not to be.” The purpose of both boys absence of father’s was to show how they affected their lives in different ways. One father chose to abandon his son while the other Wes had no choice but to cooperate with the death of his father.

The title "Fathers and Angels" also assists the author's purpose by suggesting that the mothers of the Wes Moores are not simply mothers, but are truly guardian angels for their sons. The mothers work hard to direct the boys in the right direction for a successful future by making sure the Wes' have a good education. Wes 1's mother "... decided soon after [their] move to the Bronx that [Wes] was not going to public school" (47).  Instead Wes 1's mother worked multiple jobs so that she could send her son to an affluent private school where Wes would have the opportunity to succeed. The other Wes' mother also valued her son's future and tried to provide him with the chance to receive a better education by moving her family to a new neighborhood. This shows that both the Wes Moores' mothers were strong women who only wanted the best for their sons. They would do anything to provide them with a chance to have a bright future. The Wes Moores' mothers were their protectors and angels throughout their early lives and they supported them as much as they could, despite the lack of another parent. The title of part 1 "Fathers and Angels" shows that the mothers of the Wes Moores were more than just mothers, they were angels. This first part of the book gives insight to the boy's futures by telling about their past relationships with their parents. 

It’s clear that Wes Moore titled Part One of The Other Wes Moore, ”Fathers and Angels”, to demonstrate how everyone’s past effects them in the future. It shows how childhood events and particular circumstances can change a person’s entire life. It shows how a child’s relationships with their parents can affect their futures as adults. Both boy’s lack of a father and angels of mothers completely drove their lives in different directions.