The Rose that Grew from Concrete

Bibliography

Shakur, T. (2009). THE ROSE THAT GREW FROM CONCRETE. MTV Books. ISBN: 978-0-671-02845-9.

Plot Summary

THE ROSE THAT GREW FROM CONCRETE is a collection of poems written by rapper Tupac Shakur throughout his life. All poems reflect many parts of Tupac's life, from love, family, hope, struggles, and survival. Reading his poems, it is clear that Tupac had motivation to rise despite the challenges. 

Critical Analysis

THE ROSE THAT GREW FROM CONCRETE is a great example for young readers to experience poetry in a different way. Tupac Shakur is well known for wildly growing the rap industry and creating a subgenre of it, gangster rap. Reading his poetry signifies that poetry is more than the formulated pattern we learn in elementary school. It shows how it is all about life and experiences, because Tupac is so honest, personal, and real in his poetry. Having the side-by-side of his personal writing next to the printed version of it gives an extra ounce of rawness to the poetry.

The collection also writes about many common aspects of the Black and African American culture. Some poems are from when he was young, so they reflect the experiences of a young Black man navigating through the challenges of his world. This provides a new way of representation for the community to see themselves in. Reading it from a well-known rapper makes this connection even greater.

Overall, this book is meaningful because it provides a view of poetry that is honest, cultural, and emotional from someone students may be familiar with. It reminds readers that literature has many voices and can help those who are sometimes misunderstood. 

Review Excerpt

"Was Shakur a dangerous gangsta wannabe who precipitated his own murder by attacking a Crip, or was he a misunderstood but talented poet and performer--or was he both? This slim volume of Shakur's youthful poems, collected by his manager, Steinberg, and published with the permission of the rapper's mother, will not answer the question. Nevertheless it might allow the reader to see the hopelessness that the author felt as a young black male, a poet who thought he had to be tough to survive and whose posturing killed him." VOYA, starred review.

Connections

This book would be a great addition to units on poetry. Depending on grade levels, a teacher/librarian may pull a couple of poems from the collections to make it more appropriate for readers. It can also be used on a multicultural unit, Black History Month, displaying many poems from the collections, or simply about voice and identity as Shakur's poetry strongly showcases this. Students can then write their own poem similar to THE ROSE THAT GREW FROM CONCRETE but writing about their own items that grow from a challenge that is personal to them.