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
Maverick thinks that he’s worthless—he’s hurt everyone who cares about him with his lies. But he has nothing to lose, so he might as well kill Red to avenge Dre. On Monday morning, Maverick searches the Garden for Bus Stop Tony. When he can’t find Tony at any of his usual spots, Maverick heads for the White House, which is where all the neighborhood crack cocaine addicts hide out. As soon as Maverick enters, the stench overwhelms him. Even though Maverick has laughed at a lot of drug addicts and sold product to them, he doesn’t feel like laughing now.
Though Maverick insists that he’s worthless and that his actions don’t matter, it’s important to note that this isn’t the case. Seven adores his father, and Maverick has two parents who love him—and will continue to love him, even if his lies come out. As Maverick ventures into the White House, he begins to see the consequences of dealing drugs. Not everyone he sells to are rich white people—some people are in very rough shape due to their addictions.
Themes
Maverick walks through the house and, on his way back out the front door, runs right into Tony on his way in. Tony freezes and then races away, but Maverick chases him and finally catches him on the corner. Tony assures Maverick that he didn’t do anything, even though the police don’t believe him. Maverick feels bad for Tony—who knows what the police did to him to try to get him to talk. Tony looks like he’s still wearing the same clothes he was the night Dre died. Maverick asks Tony what he saw that night, but Tony asks for crack in exchange—Pops used to give him crack. In fact, he gave Tony his first dose. Maverick agrees but says Tony has to talk first.
Maverick recognizes that because Tony is an addict, the police probably didn’t treat him well at all. And Maverick again has to recognize the damage that crack cocaine can do to people’s lives when he notices that Tony is still wearing the same clothes he was wearing months ago. Revealing that Pops gave Tony his first dose of crack shows just how long Tony has been using—at least a decade—and it shows how deeply Pops was involved in the local gang culture and drug scene.
Themes
Tony says he was down the street when he heard the gunshots. He saw the robber’s car drive away; it was a red Impala, which is what Red drives. Instead of giving Tony drugs, Maverick pulls out a couple hundred dollars. He tells Tony to get a motel, food, and some new clothes with the money—he needs to clean up. Tony’s eyes light up as he takes the money and walks away. Maverick watches him go, thinking that this is the first time in a while anyone has told him he’s like Pops. It doesn’t feel as good as Maverick wants it to.
Maverick wants to support the community, not make it worse through dealing, which is why he gives Tony the money. It’s only a temporary fix, but it might help Tony be more comfortable for a short period of time. Being compared to Pops in his willingness to give out drugs sits uncomfortably with Maverick. It’s an indication that Maverick doesn’t want to be like his father—at least when it comes to dealing drugs.
Themes
