What is the main conflict in Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned by Walter Mosley?

In each of the stories, Socrates confronts a situation or dilemma in which his own unique moral compass or sense of justice is his only guide. Whether confronting a criminal threatening his community or one of his friends, dealing with one of his own inner demons, or standing up for his rights, Socrates lives by a very strict set of rules and his own code of morality. This is perhaps best illustrated in the several stories which deal directly with the crime and violence prevalent in Watts. Because he has a deep distrust of the police – and all authority – Socrates is compelled to take action on his own in these instances rather than simply ignore the problems he is confronted with. Although in each of these stories Socrates does a considerable amount of good for his friends or his community, it is often at great personal cost to himself. Although Socrates continually refers to and thinks of himself as a “bad man” his actions, though not always strictly within the law, reveal a good, compassionate heart and a highly developed sense of what is right and what is wrong.