These prompts can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before or after reading the novel.

Icebreaker

Thomas references various pop culture icons who were famous in the 1990s, specifically mentioning hip-hop artists who influenced Maverick as a young man. What aspects of 90s hip-hop are you familiar with?

Teaching Suggestion: Discuss the social impacts of hip-hop, especially in the 90s. Ask about how hip-hop music may have affected other cultural realms, such as fashion, literature, cuisine, etc.

• Hip Hop: A Culture of Vision and Voice from The Kennedy Center profiles the hip-hop movement from the late 1970s to the late 2010s. It provides multiple points of expansion, from hip-hop vocabulary and terms to videos about the evolution of the movement.
• Hip Hop History: From the Streets to the Mainstream from The Icon Collective provides a deeper look into the cultural and economic constructs that brought about the hip-hop movement. Compare and contrast this information with Maverick’s experiences.

Post-Reading Analysis

How does Maverick’s experiences with fatherhood—both with his father and as a father himself­—reflect the themes of Breaking Down Toxic Perceptions of Masculinity, The Cycles of Poverty and Trauma, and The Devastating Effects of Race and Racism in Concrete Rose? Craft a written response highlighting at least two themes.