VII Chapter 7

Themes:
1. Importance of Education
2. Life Choices
3. Drugs

Quotes

Importance of Education
1. "I realized that I had to make sure these schools knew my name regardless of what I did on the ninety feet of hardwood that had brought me to their attention. Just as military school had grown on me, so had academic life" (P. 130).

      At this point in the book, Wes 1 has begun to realize that he cannot bank on getting into college or having a bright future by solely being a talented basketball player. He realizes that his education is important and the chance that he'll be able to play in the NBA is slim, so he begins to think more seriously about his education. Wes 1 has drastically matured throughout this book and he is beginning to understand how important his education is. Wes 1 taking his education more seriously will help him in the future because it will be his gateway to multiple job opportunities and opportunities to be successful.

2. "His quick success had Wes thinking differently about his life. He proudly displayed his new diploma at home..." (P. 142).

     Wes 2 has now enrolled at the Job Corps in an attempt to build a better life for himself. He is attempting to build a brighter future for him and his family, and one without the dangers of the drug game. For Wes, the Job Corps is one of his only paths to get his life on track again. He has grown tired of being involved in the drug game and realizes that he needs to get an education of some sort in order to acquire a job that will help him provide for his family. At this point in the book, Wes 2 has learned the skills of carpentry and has the ability to earn a job that will not involve the dangers of dealing drugs. Although education is one of the greatest equalizers in society, education will not ultimately determine whether a person succeeds. Education has provided Wes 2 with the basic tools and skills he needs to succeed. However, the ultimate fate of Wes 2 will fall into his own hands and will be based off of the choices he makes in life.

Life Choices
3. "...I decided to make the army a fundamental part of my future" (P. 130).

      In this chapter, Wes 1 has made the decision to be involved with the American army in the future. This decision was most likely one of the largest decisions in his life to make. By making this decision, Wes 1 had set out a path for his future and a paved himself a road to success. This was probably a very wise decision on Wes 1's part because he probably learned a lot of life skills a leadership skills in the army that would help him in the future. Wes 1's choice to join the army, was a wise decision for his future, which ensure his success later on in life.

4. "...Wes held the plastic bag with both hands and poured in nine ounces of cocaine" (145).

        After attending the job corps and staying out of the drug game for a full year, Wes 2 resorted to getting involved in the drug game again. Wes 2 was unable to provide for his family and the stress was of this burden was beginning to build up. Although Wes's options were limited, and tough, his decision to join the drug game again was probably the one that ultimately destroyed his future. This decision might have helped Wes in the short term to provide for his family, but in the long run it will be the drug game that gets him into trouble again and again and eventually, he will be imprisoned for life.

Drugs
5. "Wes was tired. Tired of being locked up, tired of watching drugs destroy entire families, entire communities, an entire city" (138).

       During this chapter, Wes 2 gets fed up with being involved in the drug game. Drugs had not only ruined his life but they had ruined entire communities and cities. Evidently drugs are not just problems for the dealers and users of them, but they tear entire families, communities, and cities apart. A society on drugs is a society that will not function properly. Wes 2 realizes that his involvement with the drug game and drugs themselves, have had a negative impact on many people including the mother of his children, Cheryl. The theme of drugs in this book is prevalent and it is evident that drugs have destroyed the lives of many people and damaged cities.