Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Concrete Rose, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Masculinity and Fatherhood
Identity and Individuality
Loyalty, Gang Affiliation, and Family
Poverty
Summary
Analysis
There are rules on the streets. None of them are written down, but if they were, the first rule would be to not get beaten at basketball in front of an attractive girl—especially if that girl is your girlfriend. That’s what’s happening to Maverick and King now. Though Maverick’s girlfriend Lisa cheers for him, he and King haven’t scored a single point, while Shawn and Maverick’s older cousin Dre have 11. To be fair, Maverick’s head isn’t in the game because of “what’s going down today.”
The first rule of the streets that Maverick gives shows that he’s very concerned with keeping up appearances. It’s important to him to look cool and competent in front of his girlfriend, Lisa—but he’s unable to do that today because of “what’s going down today.” Though he doesn’t explain what this means, this suggests that something huge and potentially life-changing is in the works for him.
Themes
As Maverick exchanges insults with Shawn, everyone on the sidelines laughs. They have to laugh when Shawn makes jokes, though—he’s the crown of the King Lords gang. Someone on the sideline cheers for Maverick and King, calling them “Li’l Don” and “Li’l Zeke.” Don, Maverick’s Pops, used to be the crown; and Zeke, King’s dad, was his right-hand man. The game begins again, and Shawn dunks the ball. King takes it hard, and a guy on the sidelines, P-Nut, taunts King and Maverick. King threatens to beat P-Nut up, but he decides to walk away across the court instead.
Here, the novel introduces that Maverick and the other young men here are in a gang. This means that the other boys defer to Shawn (the “crown,” or head of the gang). Maverick and King, meanwhile, are known by their fathers’ names suggests that these two haven’t yet forged their own identities in the gang. They’re still struggling to assert themselves as anything other than their fathers’ sons.
Themes
Maverick mutters to Shawn and Dre that King has a lot on his mind, and Dre reminds Shawn that “They find out today.” Shawn insists it doesn’t matter—King needs to control his temper, or he’ll be beaten up. Maverick explains to the reader that there are levels in the King Lords. Middle schoolers are “youngins,” while high schoolers like Maverick and King are “li’l homies” who sell cannabis and recruit. Dre and Shawn are “big homies” who keep the “li’l homies” in line, in addition to selling “harder stuff.” The big homies also take care of things with the Garden Disciples (GDs) on the east side of Garden Heights. Getting beaten up by the big homies is a big deal, so Maverick promises to talk to King.
Here, it becomes clear that the King Lords sell drugs—both cannabis and “harder” street drugs. Maverick also lays out that the gang has a specific structure and rules that members have to follow. This means that King needs to behave a certain way, no matter what else might be on his mind. In this way, the gang perhaps keeps its members from dealing with difficult emotions in a healthy way, since it seems that showing any vulnerability puts members at risk of violence.
Themes
Maverick runs after King and reminds him that they have to keep their cool. They’ve been selling harder stuff behind the “big homies’” backs for six months, and they’ll be in big trouble if the big homies find out. But Maverick needs the money to help his momma out. King slaps Maverick’s palm, and the boys hug. King assures Maverick that “the other thing” is going to work out, and then he leaves the park.
Maverick has deeper concerns than just what’s going on later (presumably, “the other thing”). He and King are going against how the King Lords are supposed to work and are selling drugs they shouldn’t be selling. For Maverick, this is a financial necessity: it’s the only way he can help his mother with bills.
Themes
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Maverick returns to Lisa, who teases him about needing to practice. She plays basketball at school, and she’s better than Maverick. They’ve been together since Maverick first saw her at a game years ago. He’s only messed up in their relationship once, and it was a huge mistake. Dre’s three-year-old daughter, Adreanna, teases Maverick for losing, and Dre picks Adreanna up. Lisa asks if everyone is going to the party tonight, but Keisha, Dre’s fiancé, insists that they’re not going. Having Adreanna changed Dre—now, he doesn’t party anymore. Maverick even suspects he’d like to stop being a King Lord, but that’s impossible. Maverick insists he’s going, and Dre gives him a meaningful look. Dre knows what’s going on later, but Lisa doesn’t.
Maverick seems to accept that he’s never going to be as good at basketball as Lisa is—but he still doesn’t want to look weak or inept in front of her. The aside that he’s only messed up their relationship once has no other context—which, of course, begs the question of what Maverick did, and why it’s weighing on him so heavily. As Maverick considers how Dre has changed since becoming a dad, he begins to see that fatherhood can force a person to totally reevaluate their priorities. Maverick seems to be disturbed that it makes Dre question his involvement in the gang—in Maverick’s mind, this isn’t even an option.
Themes
Lisa reminds Maverick that next year, they’ll be partying in college. Maverick pulls a gold and diamond necklace that spells his name out of his pocket and gives it to Lisa. Dre wants to know where Maverick got the money for it, so Maverick lies that he made enough doing odd jobs. Just then, a horn blares from the parking lot, and Lisa’s brother, Carlos, shouts for Lisa. Carlos hates Maverick, so Maverick makes a point to help Lisa into the car and flip Carlos off.
Lisa is college-bound, and she expects Maverick to go with her. It seems like a risky move to give Lisa this gift in front of Dre, as Maverick presumably got the money for the necklace by dealing hard drugs behind Dre’s back. This could, perhaps, jeopardize his standing in the gang. Maverick’s excuse, meanwhile, shows that he’d like to make a show of earning money honestly.
Themes
As soon as Carlos pulls away, Maverick’s Ma drives up. She teases Maverick about smelling awful and insists that he doesn’t have time to shower. They only have 15 minutes before they have to meet Iesha and her momma. Ma assures Maverick that whatever happens, she’ll be here for him. As Maverick gets in the car, Shawn runs over to say hi to Ma and assures her he’s taking care of Maverick. Pops made so many enemies that Maverick had to join the King Lords, even though Ma didn’t want him to. Ma thinks the gang thing is temporary, and she wants Maverick to graduate and go to college. Ma tells Shawn goodbye; she and Maverick are going to find out if King’s son is actually Maverick’s.
Especially given where Maverick and Ma are headed—to find out if Maverick has a son—it’s significant that Ma assures him that she’ll support him. In this way, she shows Maverick her unconditional love. But she’s not the only one who’s looking out for Maverick. Though Maverick makes it clear that he had to join the King Lords because of what Pops did in the past—meaning he may not actually want to be in the gang—Shawn seems willing to make sure Maverick stays safe.
Themes
