Summary

Part III is titled "Paths Taken and Expectations Fulfilled."

In the brief dialogue between the two Wes Moores, the one behind bars declared “I wasn’t even there that day” (125). He was still stating he was innocent. The questions back down from specifics about his role in the crime to general beliefs. Moore asked Wes if people were a product of their environment. Wes replied that they are products of expectations. People will live up to others’ expectations of them. “We will do what others expect of us. If they expect us to graduate, we will graduate. If they expect us to get a job, we will get a job. If they expect us to go to jail, then that’s where we will end up too. At some point you lose control” (126).

Moore sympathized with Wes, but did not like how...