“The Hate U Give,” directed by George Tillman Jr., is a film that tackles the issue of racism. The story revolves around Starr Carter and her family, who navigate between their impoverished black neighborhood and the affluent white preparatory school. As Starr witnesses her childhood best friend being shot by a white police officer, the delicate balance between these two worlds shatters. Now, she must confront the pressure from both sides and find her own voice to stand up for her rights. The movie’s title, cleverly spelled out as “Thug,” highlights the derogatory label assigned to Starr, her family, and their black friends by white individuals. In order to understand why police officers fear them, Starr embarks on a journey to uncover the truth.
In The Hate U Give, the characters are assigned specific roles, representing a diverse mix of white and black people. The protagonist, Starr, is chosen to portray a teenage black girl. Due to safety concerns at the local school, her parents decide to send her to a predominantly white prep school. At this new school, Starr forms friendships with Hailey, Chris, and Maya, who are white. While Hailey and Maya are her school companions, Chris becomes her boyfriend. However, Starr deliberately keeps Chris separate from her home life in order to shield him from the racism and conflicts she experiences. Despite living in a contrasting neighborhood, Starr’s friends and boyfriend assume she resides in a wealthy area like theirs. Notably, Starr’s parents and siblings hold significant roles in shaping her life.
Starr’s dad, Maverick, consistently educates her about the rules and rights that come with being black. He ensures that she and her brothers, Sekani and Seven, are aware of their place in society each day. Maverick includes in their daily routine reciting their rights before heading off to school. This has a significant impact on their lives, as being black presents numerous challenges. They are constantly held responsible for the conflicts and violence occurring in the world. In contrast, Starr’s mom, Lisa, presents a different perspective. She always maintains compassion for Starr, Sekani, and Seven. Lisa continuously emphasizes the importance of recognizing the humanity in others and cultivating empathy and understanding.
Starr’s parents, Sekani and Seven, have shaped her perspective on life. Both of her brothers are supportive and protective, always there to assist her in any situation. Khalil Harris, Starr’s childhood best friend whom she had a longtime crush on, was caring and kind towards her. However, everything changed one fateful night after a party when Starr witnessed a white Police Officer shoot Khalil for simply reaching for a hairbrush inside his car while she was in the passenger seat.
This movie is set in a deprived African-American community, which has only a few stores including Starr’s father’s store. In contrast, there is a wealthy white prep school. The neighborhood where Starr resides is economically disadvantaged and dilapidated. Her family lives in a small yet charming townhouse. Starr’s town is comprised of three establishments – a barbershop and a barbeque joint. The area is plagued by drug addicts who engage in drug dealing for financial reasons or to appease the King Lords, possibly to support their families. It is important to be cautious during drug deals as they can potentially involve firearms and even be used as a guise for murder.
This text pertains to the issue of racism as it instills fear in people towards individuals with dark-colored skin. Both police officers and others hold the perception that many dark-colored teenagers and adults carry firearms. At the white preparatory school attended by Starr, there is a prevalent display of thug-like behavior through the use of slang and dance moves on a daily basis. Starr doesn’t mind this, as they embrace it and engage in lighthearted banter. She appreciates this acceptance as it brings laughter and a sense of respect towards her and her skin color. The behavior exhibited by these teenagers is representative of typical adolescent conduct.
The distinction between affluent white neighborhoods and schools compared to Starr’s neighborhood is that the former are populated exclusively by white individuals. In these privileged communities, there is no fear of encountering gun violence or unwarranted police harassment. Conversely, in Starr’s neighborhood and schools, police officers can be found everywhere, eagerly awaiting an opportunity to pull people over or even resort to shooting them without cause. The officers view Starr’s community with apprehension due to their dissimilarities, heightened anger stemming from living in impoverished neighborhoods with limited access to basic amenities, and unrelenting attribution of blame for any disturbances that occur.
