This guide is intended as a supplement for the reading of The Other Wes Moore. It is not intended as a replacement for reading the book.
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“Identity can be defined as the ways in which an individual describes him/herself or the ways in which a person is described by society. A person can have several “identities” such as: gender, race, age, socioeconomic status, linguistic background, culture, religion, sexual orientation, geographic residence, nationality, creed, familial connections, body size, and other signifiers.
The theme of “Identity” is woven throughout “The Other Wes Moore” and we learn about the different “identities” of both Wes Moores in addition to the identities of their families, friends, and community members. The following discussion questions and activites will explore the theme of “Identity” that will scaffold their understandings by engaging in discussions with peers, self-selecting the attributes of their own identity, and connecting their personal identities to the individuals from “The Other Wes Moore.”
What does the word “identity” mean? What are some of the ways in which people identify themselves? “I am a _______”
Some identities can be seen by others and other identities are only known to others if the individual chooses to share that information. What are some of the identities that you can usually “see”? What are some identities that you might not be able to see?
If we see a man in a tailored suit driving a brand new sports car, we might identify him as someone belonging to a higher socioeconomic group. Is that an accurate assumption? What are the benefits of knowing certain identities of others and what can be misleading or harmful about making assumptions about the identities of others?