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Anela Warren

Mr. Adam

Humanities 9

October 4th, 2020

The Hate You Give

If you wanted to take a look at America’s stance on racial equality, all you’d have to do is

flick on the news from a month or so ago or google the phrase ‘Black Lives Matter’. However, if

you want to truly understand the experience of the oppressed, you should read ‘The Hate You

Give’ by Angie Thomas.

The book begins by introducing our main character, Starr Carter, a girl torn between two

worlds. She has the unique position of living in what many would call “the ghetto”- Garden

Heights- and attending a private school- Williamson High- in the largely white side of the

neighborhood. Her neighborhood is riddled with crime and gang activity(mostly centered around

a man named King who leads the King Lords in that area), but her loving parents and many

others call it home and that made for a better childhood than one would expect. However, at her

school, she must become “Williamson Starr” to fit in.

The story starts at a party that she has been asked to attend by her friend Kenya because

Kenya wanted to tell off someone who’d done something to offend her. Starr is lamenting about

not feeling like she belongs at this party when she is approached by her childhood friend, Khalil

Harris. They are talking when suddenly, gunshots are heard. Khalil is quick to spring to action

and leads Starr to his car. They drive away from the party as everything descends into chaos.

As Khalil dives into the night, the two friends catch up and Khalil teaches Starr about the

philosophical meaning of THUG LIFE as told by Tupac. Starr also finds out that Khalil is selling
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drugs. Before she can say anything more about it, they hear a cop car behind them. The cop asks

for Khalil’s license and registration which he provides with a small amount of pushback. While

this exchange is happening, Starr has the good instinct to memorize the cop’s badge number,

One Fifteen.

Suddenly, the cop tells Khalil to get out of the car and put his hands up. Khalil is dragged

out of the car and pinned against it while One Fifteen pats him down excessively. He tells Khalil

to stay where he is and goes back to his car to do something. Khalil immediately begins walking

toward his own car to check if Starr is okay. Then, he is shot in the back three times by One

Fifteen.

The aftermath is nearly immediate as movements spring up demanding justice for Khalil.

Meanwhile, Starr is wishing to distance herself from it. She even goes so far as to lie to her

friends at school and deny her connection to Khalil while grieving his death.

Then, she is confronted by Kenya, who demands she speak up, and Ms. Ofrah, who tells

her that her voice is a weapon. This and the combined influence of her parents and the turmoil

she feels at watching her friend’s name change from ‘Khalil’ to ‘the drug dealer’ or ‘thug’

pushes her to speak out.

After telling her story on multiple news channels and testifying in court, Khalil still has

not gotten justice and even her white friends are trying to justify his death. As this is happening,

new details come to light about Khalil that would change the public’s view of him if they knew.

Then, the long-awaited day comes where the court announces its ruling on the Khalil case. The

jury decides not to indict One Fifteen.

Suddenly, there is rioting in the streets and Starr’s old neighborhood is on fire. Starr, her

brother, her friend, and her boyfriend all join in the protesting, as they happen to be in the
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neighborhood. Then, it takes a violent turn as the looting begins. They escape to a different part

of Garden Heights where Ms. Ofrah once again gives Starr the chance to use her voice. Soon

after, the police begin throwing tear gas, Starr and her friends hitch a ride with a gang member

her father knows to escape.

They are dropped off at her father’s store and are about to call Starr’s mother to let her

know that they are okay when a Molotov cocktail comes flying through the window and

immediately lights the building aflame. Thankfully, the group manages to get out through the

back door with Starr’s father’s help as the inferno consumes the store.

Unfortunately, when they return the next morning, the store is but a shell of its former

self. All is not lost, however, as some people in the neighborhood volunteer their help or yell

support as they pass. This gives them all hope for the future as well as encouraging Starr’s family

to still keep this part of themselves in Garden Heights. At the end of the book, Starr is still

unhappy with the injustice she and her community face, but this just strengthens her resolve to

become an activist and seek out justice herself.

Now, I mentioned before this is a very important story to know to fully understand the

experience of the oppressed. However, it’s not just about that. It’s less about understanding and

more about acting. Even if you don’t understand the struggles of minorities, I’m firm in my

belief that we should believe them when they tell us they’re being systematically oppressed.

A good example of this is the Black Lives Matter movement going on at the moment.

I’ve seen way too many white people online telling people that racism isn’t a thing anymore and

that it died with segregation. Though I desperately wish that were true, the KKK is still a thing,

our prison and justice systems are still the same, and our president refuses to condemn white

supremacists.
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Also, if you’ve ever been to a Black Lives Matter protest on the mainland, you won’t

need me to spell out the similarities for you. I, personally, haven’t been to one, but I have social

media. I see the videos of medics and reporters being shot with rubber bullets. I hear the screams

of people running away from flashbangs and tear gas canisters. Our police system is still corrupt,

just like in The Hate You Give. And just like in the book, we must continue to work to fix it.