MacGinley 1

Ciara MacGinley

Dr. Medina

English 1A-20

5 October 2017

Deconstructing Meritocracy through the Lives of the Wes Moores

A huge aspect of the American dream is reliant on a system of meritocracy. The belief is

that if one works hard, they shall be successful. However, this is often not the case. Many people

start life with more advantages than others. Whether it be socio-economic class, race or

environment, it is apparent that many of those in the disadvantaged side of these spectrum have

their opportunities and potential limited. The ideology of meritocracy very much aligns with the

American Dream and in definition is ideal. However, in Hayes book The Twilight of the Elites,

Hayes highlights misperceptions of meritocracy and how relying on such a system excludes

many who have the potential to qualify and thrive. By looking at Hayes definition of

meritocracy, the Wes Moores, in The Other Wes Moore, are able to deconstruct common

misperceptions of meritocracy and highlight the injustices in our system

Although Wes Moore makes no direct comment on meritocracy in The Other Wes Moore,

one can see the two lives of the Wes Moores as an example of the failure of the system of

meritocracy. Moore opens his biography by even admitting the the chilling truth is that his story

could have been mine. The tragedy is that my story could have been his (Moore xi). Because

Wes Moore did experience slight advantages over the other Wes Moore he was able to excel and

become successful. This demonstrates how level playing field is not equal. Hayes points out

many students don't have the same opportunities and chances as others due to their background
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or environment. Hayes extends on this metaphor and his point by highlighting that the playing

field may be level, but certain kids get to spend nights and weekends practicing on it in advance

of the competition (40). Hayes argues that no matter how hard or how fair the system may

seem, there is no way that every child will be given an equal amount of opportunities which

therefore makes it unfair to claim we are in a system based upon merit. As one can see in the

situation with Wes Moore one gets benefits and opportunities, in return, creating an unlevel

playing field. Hayes points these out potential faults in the system of meritocracy and how it is

unfair to expect two boys who are starting at different places to end in the same place.

A huge factor of Wes Moores success can be attributed to his financial access. Although,

he too came from a lower income neighborhood and was not raised with lots of money, with

great sacrifice Wes Moore did have the ability to attend better schools. Wes commented upon

how he had no idea then, but [he] later found out just what sacrifices [his mom] was talking

about The problem was that military school is not free. Its not even cheap. The price tag for

Valley Forge was even steeper than that for Riverdale (Moore 95). Even though this financial

advantage was created through great sacrifice, Wes Moores opportunities and success are

attributed to his ability to attend Valley Forge. Hayes revealed that the best way to predict a

student's SAT score is to look at his parents' income: the more money they make, the higher the

score is likely to be (Hayes 48). Although Wes Moore was not necessarily extremely wealthy,

the same concept of financial access and opportunity is apparent in both situations. This

monetary challenge is what prevents a lot of students like the other Wes Moore who did not have

money to sacrifice and therefore did not have the educational opportunities. Due to his parents

income he was stuck in his local school and became very easy for him to fall into a life of crime.
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Hayes commented about the connection of how financial ability and success reveals how these

boys success were deeply connected to how much their parent would financially provide for

them.

Wes Moore was fortunate to attend a very privileged school, Riverdale. For Wes Moores

mom Riverdale was a haven, a place where I could escape my neighborhood and open [his]

horizons. But for [Wes Moore], it was where [he] got lost (Moore 48). It was extremely difficult

for Moore to navigate the two very different worlds he had to alternate in. However his situation

was rare. Often many kids who live in lower income neighborhoods dont have the resources to

attend better school. This creates an unfair distribution of kids of socio-economic demographics.

Hayes states how if one truly believe[s] that the demographics of Hunter represent the

distribution of intelligence in this city, then [one] must believe that the Upper West Side,

Bayside, and Flushing are intrinsically more intelligent than the South Bronx,

Bedford-Stuyvesant, and Washington Height (Hayes 43). At Riverdale, Wes was encouraged by

and attended school in an affluent community, like the Upper West Side, yet he still lived in a

low income neighborhood. It is not until he is totally isolated from his current environment of

crime he is able to break free and thrive. The other Wes Moore was never even exposed to

anything else. The Harsh environment of his neighborhood forced many things upon him and he

had very limited options. They were both surrounded by lots of violence, bad schools, little

money and opportunity except in drug/crime industry. Hayes questions why academic success is

closely related to demographic influence. Environment and monetary access to education has a

huge influence in success. It is unfair to blame the individual when placed in oppressing

environment.
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Another unfortunate and unfair aspect of meritocracy that works against both men is their

race. Since both men are African American there is higher chance they will come from a lower

income family, single parent family, live in lower income neighborhoods, will get involved with

crime and be racially profiled. In the drug industry white kids were used because they were less

conspicuous and less likely tone stopped by police officers (80). The racial unfairness can be

further seen in the education system. In regard to a new New York Times article, Hayes states

the entering seventh grade class was 12 percent black and 6 percent Hispanic in 1995, but just 3

percent black and 1 percent Hispanic in 2009(Hayes 36) These disproportionate numbers of

diversity have become to be accepted as a norm with little done to change them. Whether it's on

the streets on in the classroom it is apparent that race plays a huge factor and offers certain

advantages and disadvantages. Due to the extremely disproportionate number of people of color

in affluent schools it is apparent that the system of merit can not be properly functioning without

making the argument that people of color are less qualified. If only certain students are attending

good schools and higher education then perception and stereotype will begin to mold into an

extremely monginstic image. This image can perpetuate the low expectation of people of color in

the education system and on the streets.

Through the telling of both Wes Moores lives in the biography, The Other Wes Moore,

Hayes theories and ideas of meritocracy align with the lives of these young men. Although both

boys have many similarities, one can see their lives develop and change due to slight benefits the

other may possess, very similar to Hayes claims on why meritocracy is an unreliable system.

Hayes states the resources and environment one is exposed to or has access too has a huge

influence in one's ability to succeed. Wes Moore still faced extreme obstacles, even with his
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educational opportunities, and is still an exception to the many oppressing statistics Hayes

provides. It is unfortunate how factors, outside one's control, can influence one's access to

education and future potential. Therefore it is unfair to hold onto this idea that one is capable and

always given full opportunity for social mobility. The idea that the American dream is possible

when in reality social constructions make it unrealistic to many.

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Works Cited

Moore, Wes, 1978-. The Other Wes Moore : One Name, Two Fates. New York :Spiegel & Grau

Trade Paperbacks, 2011. Print.

Hayes, Christopher. Twilight of the Elites: America After Meritocracy. New York: Crown

Publishers, 2012. Print.