In "the Rockpile" by James Baldwin, the descriptive detail that hints at the symbolic meaning of the rockpile is this: Sliding on the slippery rock.
The Rockpile” is a short story written by African American writer James Baldwin. It was first published in his 1965 collection Going to Meet the Man. The story follows two boys, Roy and his older brother John. The rock pile refers to a natural formation across the street from where the boys live.