Family and Friends of Wes Moore

Family and Friends of author Wes Moore: Add your own comments or notes as you read the book.

Wes Moore / The author of the book, which highlights how decision-making played a role in the paths, they chose.
Nikki / Wes’s half sister; she is seven years older than him.
Shani / Wes’s baby sister
Joy / Wes’s mother. Her family moved to the US from Jamaica when she was 3. Her father wanted to earn a degree in theology from an American University.
Bill / Joy’s first husband and Nikki’s father. He became addicted to drugs and alcohol and Joy left him when he became physically abusive.
Wes Moore Sr. / Wes’s father who was a reporter. He met Joy when she was hired as his writing assistant. He died shortly before Wes’s fourth birthday.
Rev. Dr. James Thomas / Wes’s maternal grandfather. He brought his family to the US from Jamaica so he could study theology at an American University. They welcomed their daughter, Joy, and her children into their home in the Bronx.
Winell Thomas / Wes’s maternal grandmother. Her family originally moved from Cuba to Jamaica.
Justin / Wes’s friend from the Bronx. Their mothers were friends and they both went to Riverdale.
Shea / One of Wes’s friends from the neighborhood. Early on, Shea became involved in drug dealing. Wes’s first experience with the police was when he was tagging with Shea.
Uncle Howard / Justin’s mother’s younger brother who positively influences Wes.
Aunt BB / Wes’s godmother. She was a good family friend and lived with them in the Bronx for a while.
Ty Hill / Wes’s friend who was a Cadet Captain.
Dalio / A fellow platoon sergeant at Valley Forge with Wes. They went out one night and had an altercation with some teenagers from the town.
Paul White / He helps Wes get into Johns Hopkins; he is a black man who helps pull up others that would have been left behind.
Mayor Schmoke / Mayor of Baltimore that Wes interned under. He encouraged Wes to become a Rhodes Scholar.