Concrete Rose

Roses are a recurring symbol in Concrete Rose. The first occurrence is in the title, which references “The Concrete Rose,” a poem by iconic rapper Tupac Shakur. “The Concrete Rose” tells the story of a rose that grows up from a crack in concrete, defying the laws of nature. In Shakur’s poem, the concrete symbolizes the toughness of the ghetto, and the rose conveys the greatness that can rise from adverse circumstances. Angie Thomas weaves the symbol of a rose into the structure of Concrete Rose by dividing the book into three major sections: “Germination,” “Growth,” and “Dormancy,” followed by the epilogue, “Bud.” Within the narrative, roses function as a metaphor for Mav.

Mav’s first task at his “clean” job is to plant rose bushes in Mr. Wyatt’s garden. He is disappointed to find that the bushes look like sad bunches of twigs, and doubts that they will ever bloom. This mindset parallels the self-doubt he feels about his ability to escape a lifestyle of dealing and gang involvement. It’s significant that the neighborhood Mav lives in is called Garden Heights. Like the roses in Mr. Wyatt’s garden, Mav must find a way to grow within his limiting environment.

Mr. Wyatt tells Mav that roses are capable of surviving a lot more than most people think but need some extra care in order to truly thrive. Mav, too, has mastered survival but is not yet thriving due to the unforgiving nature of the Garden and his corresponding struggles to establish his identity and believe in himself. To keep a rose bush healthy, one must prune away the parts of the bush which will not help it grow. This is a process Mav mirrors in his own life as he gradually sheds the people and practices that are holding him back: his friendship with King, his toxic perception of masculinity, and his adherence to street rules.

Right after sparing Red’s life and leaving the drug business for good, Mav walks into Mr. Wyatt’s garden to find the rose bushes in full bloom, even though it’s the dead of winter. The timing of this discovery suggests that the unlikely blooms symbolize the immense personal growth that Mav has accomplished amid harsh circumstances. Seeing the blooming bushes, Mav realizes that roses can grow anywhere as long as they are given the care they need and a chance to bloom. Mav, too, is capable of anything when he takes his life into his own hands and gives himself a chance to be the person he wants to be.