the Other Wes Moore (2010)

by Wes Moore

  Fundamentally, this story is about two boys, each of whom was going through his own personal journey and searching for help. One of them received it; the other didn't. And now the world stands witness to the results. Small interactions and effortless acts of kindness can mean the difference between failure and success, pain and pleasure--or becoming the people we loathe or love to become. We are more powerful than we realize, and I urge you to internalize the meanings of this remarkable story and unleash your own power.

  There are organizations around the country that are helping to do just that every day, and in many different ways. At the back of this book, Wes has compiled an impressive list of more than two hundred youth-serving organizations that open their doors to help young people walk through to brighter tomorrows. I implore you to reach out to them and others in your communities for help, whether you are a young person in search of direction, an adult in need of support for the young people in your life, or a philanthropist or community servant who is looking to help.

  Wes Moore has written a most engaging polemic that is enlightening, encouraging, and empowering. The Other Wes Moore serves as a reminder that ultimately the battle of life is won in the trying, and in the serving. God will take care of the rest.

  Tavis Smiley

  Los Angeles, California

  October 2009

  Resource Guide

  Here is a list of organizations that are helping youth across the country live up to their greatest potential. For an up-to-date list, visit www.theotherwesmoore.com.

  ADVOCACY

  AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS

  ARTS EDUCATION

  EDUCATION

  ENTREPRENEURSHIP

  FAMILY STRENGTHENING AND MENTORING

  REENTRY

  SOCIAL SERVICES

  TUTORING

  Acknowledgments

  This book is a culmination of support from friends, family, and mentors from all aspects of my life, and for all of them I am eternally thankful.

  But, most important, my first acknowledgment goes to my God and Creator. To Him goes all the glory.

  Micha Bar-Am once said, "If you're too close [to events], you lose perspective. It is not easy to be fair with the facts and keep your own convictions out of the picture. It is almost impossible to be both a participant in events and their observer, witness, interpreter." Therefore, I went into this process with a tremendous amount of humility and uncertainty--both about whether or not to take on the endeavor and how the final product would ring true to its intent.

  There were countless people in my life who helped me make this decision and transition to the literary world. To Terrie Williams: before anyone else, you believed in my ability to develop a story that is transcending. You are an angel and a guide. To my book agent, Linda Loewenthal, thank you--you helped me shape this project from a reluctant idea to a proud reality. To Cindy Spiegel and Julie Grau, whose reputation in this industry truly precedes them, you took a big bet on an unproven entity and threw your overwhelming support behind it. Sally Marvin, Barbara Fillon, Karen Fink, Avideh Bashirrad, Tom Perry, Debbie Aroff, Carol Schneider, and the entire Spiegel & Grau team, from editing to production to marketing--I could not have aligned myself with a better shop and a more committed and talented group of literary activists. Mya Spalter, you have helped guide this process from jump and I am sincerely grateful. And to my editor, Chris Jackson, you are part genius editor, part psychiatrist! I am thankful for your God-given skill, your diligent eye, and your belief in this project's purpose. To you all, thank you.

  To my researchers, William Davis, Nikki Moore, Ginger Wilmot, Yetsa Tuakli-Wosornu, and Patricia Nelson, your diligence made this project more than simply a story--it added the context to the anecdotes. To my "ghostreaders," Ian Klaus, Randy Baron, Mustafa Riffat, Taiye Tuakli-Wosornu, and Shani Moore Weatherby, you never hesitated in reading and rereading my drafts and keeping me focused. Your fingerprints are all over this, and I am honored to have such talented friends and family. And to my "author friends," Craig Mullaney, Alex Kotlowitz, Jared Cohen, Nate Fick, Paul Rieckhoff, Steve Mariotti, Bill Rhoden, Khephra Burns, Susan Taylor, Reverend Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook, Hsu-Ming Teo, Angela Giltrap, and Mirta Ojito, thanks for the help and warm embrace into the club.

  I am thankful for the transparency and honesty of Wes, his family, and his friends. Mary, Nicey, Woody, Coach, Alicia, and all the others, you gave me hours of your time and, most important, your trust. This project was not an easy one to navigate, but your openness helped ease the process. To the family of Bruce Prothero, your strength and the memory of Bruce sat with me every day, and always will.

  There are a handful of people who, very early on, believed in this project and lent their voices and influence to make it happen: Juan Williams, Armstrong Williams, Dr. Ben Carson, Dr. Sampson Davis, Mayor Cory Booker, Geoffrey Canada, Stephen A. Smith, Judge Gerald Lee, Tavis Smiley, Reverend Dr. Brad Braxton, Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, the Honorable William Cohen and his wonderful wife, Janet Langhart Cohen, Ambassador James Joseph, and Dr. Na'im Akbar. Thank you for your early and stalwart support.

  Very special thanks and a debt of gratitude go to my maternal and paternal family. You have been the roots that have allowed me to grow, and I know that without you there could be no me. There are countless people who grace this group, but to every Moore, Thomas, Flythe, Anglin, Avant, Banks, Blue, Boyd, Broadnax, Cannon, Carolina, Clarke, Coleman, Crawford, Drayton, Duncan, Dwyer, Hackett, Jarvis, Moyston, Simmons, Traylor, and Weatherby, thank you. Special acknowledgment goes to Mama Win, whose love and example are extraordinary and overwhelming. Have faith, not fear! My mother, words can hardly express what you mean to me; you are the epitome of love and compassion, and the kind of parent and friend I hope to be. You wore sweaters so we could wear coats. Dawn, my soul mate and battle buddy, years after marrying you I still get butterflies when I am around you! "Even when the skies are gray, you will rub me on my back and say, 'Baby it will be okay.'" To my sisters, Nikki and Shani, and Rita and brothers Jamaar and Earl, you have always kept me grounded and I am eternally grateful to be your brother. To Mama Gwen; Pandora Flythe; my aunts Pam, BB, Donna, Dawn, Evelyn, Toni, Tawana, Michelle, Valerie, Thea, Camille, Karen, Cheryl, Ellen, Iris, Carol, Connie, Cookie, Osie, Angie, Mira, Linda, Pam, Mary, Helen, Edna, Vicki, Gail, Alexis, Debbie, Thursa, and Lark; to my uncles Howard, Ralph, Ty, Gerald, Bernie, Bobby, Sonny, Cecil, Derek, Garrick, Harold, Donyell, Milton, Robert, David, and Kermit; to my cousins Denise, Phil, Marcus, Tenai, Elijah, Adrian, Aaron, Erroll, Lamar, La-Toshia, Ciara, Christian, Julisa, Tamara, Mimi, Michael, Paul, Ryan, Wayne, Carlton, Maurice, Taira, Nikki, Craig, Terrell, Guy, Phillip, Fred, Roland, Patty, Linette, Annette, Lisa, Karen, Blossom, Dorice, Ladrice, and Naquan--your gentle love and generosity helped fuel my journey. I have hundreds of family members, from Washington State to Washington, D.C., and in dozens of nations around the world, and I am thankful for all of you.

  Papa Jim and Daddy, no acknowledgment list would be complete without you. Your soul, spirit, and love live on. I am who I am because you were who you were. I am also so thankful because I know, and can feel, even from your new perch, your love and guidance. I love you, I love you, I love you.

  Along the way, there have been people who have touched my life in special ways and been so helpful through various phases of this process--Justin Brandon and Angela Miklavcic, John and Marcy McCall-MacBain, Tod Lending, Kathryn Shagas and Tony Machowski, Kris Coffey, Billo Harper, Karen Thomas, Linda Duggins, Dia Simms, Ericka Pittman, Toni Bias, Tanya Carr, Lois Vann, Denise Pines, Derick, Kendra, and Wynter Ausby, Nikki and Jeff Harris, Mike Fenzel, Tom and Stephanie Pellathy, Donald and Godly Davis, Jeshahnton Essex, Tommy and Christy Ransom, Lev Smirdov, David and Debbie Roberts, Howie Mandel, Lee Hendler, Chris, Jean, and Margaret Angell, Tom and Andi Bernstein, Loida Lewis, Don and Katrina Peebles, Ty Hill, RADM and "Mom" Hill, LTC Murnane, Barney and Carl Smith, Ken and Judy Ravitz, Nikki and Jeff Harris, Bill and Sue Floyd, Mike and Lisa Fenzel,
Alonzo Fulgham, Darrell and Felice Friedman, Tracey Alexander, William and Wendy Brody, Jarvis and Stacey Stewart, Faye Charles, Doris Atkins, LaRian Finney, Robert Reffkin, Howard Buffett, Zach Druker, Coach Ogs and Spring, Dan and Avery Rosenthal, Adrian Talbot, Tahir and Priti Radhakrishnan, Jan and Larry Rivitz, Eddie and Sylvia Brown, the entire Lunn family, Sharon Lopez and Raisa Lopez-Rhoden, David Lasky, Tricia and Ken Eisner, Ralph Smith, Doug Nelson and the entire Annie E. Casey family, Julian Harris, Esther Tang, Vic Carter, Kai Jackson, Lawrence Penn, and Khalil Byrd. Thank you all for being there at every step of this book process.

  To my Valley Forge and Army brethren, you are my role models and friends. I pray that this book illustrates, in some way, how much your example, love, patriotism, and professionalism have meant to me. Tim, Sean, and Josh, five-year family forever! And to the leadership of Phi Theta Kappa, I continue to be in awe of your commitment to scholarship and excellence.

  Johns Hopkins will always hold a special place in my heart, not simply for the education I received, but for the friendships I treasure. To the graduating group of 2001, and to the board members I now share that title with, thank you. You are the model of commitment to and concern for our nation's future.

  My Citi team could not have been more supportive of this book process as well as of my career development. Pam Flaherty, your support and belief in me brought me into Citi, and your support and that of so many others have kept me there. Ray McGuire, you inspire me to be a better financier and, more important, a better man. "Eagles do not fly in flocks." Special thanks to Liz Fogarty, who has been a third eye throughout this process. Your support has been invaluable.

  Bobby and Dawn Wylie, not only did you make our transition at Oxford easy, but our friendship has lasted. My entire Rhodes class, Rochelle Aucheim and the Rhodes Trust, and the alumni of the Scholarship have been nothing but encouraging.

  To Daniel Pellathy, Michael, Holley, and Noelle Thomas, Mark Vann II, and Earl Flythe IV, I could not be more proud of you. I will always be there for you.

  And to other young people who will read this book, understand this: you have never been, and will never be, alone. We have all walked our own personal journeys--flawed and all--but our goal is the same: to ensure that we end up closer to a more beautiful and God-honoring destiny.

  There are so many others I am indebted to who have also stood by me and loved me throughout this journey of life. I have the most extraordinary set of friends and mentors a person could ask for, so if I have not named you specifically, please know that I hold you in my heart and I hope and pray you understand just what you mean to me.

  God bless you all and thank you....

  Elevate....

  Wes

  About the Author

  WES MOORE is a Rhodes Scholar who was also a paratrooper and is a combat veteran of Afghanistan. He worked as a special assistant to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as a White House Fellow. He currently serves as an investment professional in New York and is married to Dawn Moore. This is his first book.

  www.TheOtherWesMoore.com

  Wes Moore is available for select readings and lectures. To inquire about a possible appearance, please visit www.rhspeakers.com or call 212-572-2013.

  Copyright (c) 2010 by Wes Moore

  "A Call to Action" copyright (c) 2010 by Tavis Smiley

  All rights reserved.

  Published in the United States by Spiegel & Grau, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.

  SPIEGEL & GRAU and Design is a registered trademark of Random House, Inc.

  eISBN: 978-1-58836-969-7

  www.spiegelandgrau.com

  v3.0