My Interview with Wes Moore, "The Next Black President," on 7 Days in America

It's tough not to like Wes Moore. He has an incredible story--star football player, Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, army captain in Afghanistan, Citibank trader, White House fellow--and he knows how to tell one, too. Elevate: American Journeys into Manhood will be published by Random House next fall. Listening to him describe the book, about another man from Baltimore named Wes Moore who followed a downward path as steep as Moore's was up, you know we're going to be hearing from him for a long time to come. In fact, The Stimulist recently called him "The Next Obama":

If the first black president heeds the counsel of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and creates a Council for men and boys, he'll undoubtedly turn to Moore, no stranger to the White House (and an Alpha himself). In the meantime, Wes is laying plans to use Elevate to catalyze a movement -- answering BHO's call to community service with a nationwide campaign. The idea is to do for youth and service what, say, Diddy did with youth and voting in 2004.

Of course, those who doubt Moore's pure intentions (read: those who envy his stunning accomplishments) say all this good-doing is merely stage-setting for a political campaign. But you know how that goes. The Stimulist is not in the business of tearing down young people trying to build their communities up. And Moore just effuses too much positivity to inspire anything but good will.

So, to review. Army chops, political chops, financial chops, a memoir, a wife as brilliant as she is beautiful. We give you. . .Moore for 2024.

Will he definitely be president? No one can say. But would I be very happy to see him as one of our public leaders.  I agree with President Obama: both smarts and empathy matter, and Wes has seen different sides of life in America. As we see with Elevated, he keeps looking at life on "the other side" in a thoughtful and very real way. And as one who hopes we one day become "one America" and "one globe"--instead of two Americas and two worlds--I like and respect people who thoughtfully, not wistfully nor bombastically, consider the more difficult roads that real people often travel.

 

Listen to Carlos' interview with Wes Moore on 7 Days in America:

Cross-posted at The Stimulist.

Comments

[jandrew121]

Capt. Moore just completed an interview on MSNBC. Some posters asked about his policies, and other political questions. First, he is only 30, second he said at this point in does not want to run for president, and third he thinks there are other ways to make a difference other than politics. So people need to relax and chill. If he does run, it won't be for another 15-20 years, and at that time his positions will be clear and we will have a record to study. His family are wonderful people, and what makes him a great leader is the strength of his mother. I wish him well in the future.

[ellabrazos]

i never heard of this guy before. AMAZING!

[2morrowKnight]

He's been on my radar for sometime. He is a very impressive figure. Thanks for your piece Carlos...a­nd I love your online site "The Stimulist". Keep up the great work.

Oh, when is MSNBC going to give you your own evening show? You rock the A.M. for sure, but you've got the backgrond, wits, and intelligence to rock the P.M. too. Know what I'm sayin'? I'll keep reading "The Stimulist" and looking for your ascension at MSNBC.

http://2morrowknight.blogspot.com/

[NamelessGenXer]

On your show you asked for other up & coming pols to keep an eye on... I predict a rise to national prominence for Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, NJ -- he rocks!

[kwinter]

He definitely does!

[Ohioan730]

I never considered that there could be TWO of them in my lifetime. That would be pretty cool. However, it would take a lot more research on his policy positions and that Citibank thing sounds fishy to me. I helped organize a community group that was against their sub-prime lending arm a few years ago. It was a moment in American history and collective black pride in a way, but I completely agreed with and believed in Barack Obama no matter what color he was.

[WarSkeptic]

I don't see any of his policy positions in this article. So I am not given any reason to support him.

I do see that he was a "citibank trader." That doesn't seem good

[TRYKER]

2024 huh? Not 2012? Who is going to follow Obama?

[We-Are-The-Ones]

Wes will be President not because he is Black but because has the qualities of a leader. Obama is President not because he is Black but because he is a leader. Obama is Black because for a change being Black did not hurt him, though the Repubs sure tried.

I say more competent, qualified leaders for President. If they are Black? So much the better.

[SolarPowerGuy]

Because someone has to say it, and I mean no disrespect­...

"Wes is Moore."

It might make a nice campaign slogan, when you think about it.