The Hate You Give is a novel written by Angie Thomas. It was published in the beginning of 2017, and it was Angie Thomas’ debut novel. This text is going to discuss my opinions and thoughts on this novel. I am going to comment on the character development, themes, language and environment. In addition to this, I will be going to discuss how The Hate U Give uses historical references.

In the novel we meet Starr Carter, who is the main character. She is a sixteen-year-old girl who grew up in a poor black neighborhood, Garden Heights. As readers, we get to hear the story from Starr’s perspective, and we follow her throughout the whole book. We also get to hear what she is thinking, as well as there is dialogue.

We meet many characters in the novel, some more important than others. Starr has two parents as well as a younger brother, Sekani, and an older half-brother, Seven. They all live together in a house in Garden Heights. When Starr was only 10 years, she saw her best friend Natasha get shot and killed by gang members. After this, Starr was sent off to start at Williamson, which is a wealthy private school. She has white friends at school, but they were never in Garden Heights. Her friend Maya and her white boyfriend lived in the same, wealthy neighborhood as Starr’s Uncle Carlos. So, when Starr was at her Uncle Carlos’ house, she could visit them. She also becomes an expert at switching up between the Starr she is at home, and “Williamson Starr”. 

Throughout the novel, Starr goes from being an uncertain teenager to an outspoken activist who stands up for her community. When Khalil was shot (early in the book), Starr was unsure and afraid to speak about the incident. She didn’t tell her school friends about it, neither did she tell Chris, her white boyfriend. She was afraid of what they would think of her. After the incident, it becomes harder for Starr to switch between her two identities. And she starts to realize that she will always be judged or strive to fit in within white spaces. She also gets reminded that as the only witness to the Khalil-incident, she must speak up in order to earn Khalil’s justice. When she realizes this, she starts to stop tolerating racist comments from her friend Hailey, and she lets Chris into her Garden Heights life. She also participated in riots and testified on Khalil’s behalf in front of the grand jury. 

Another character who is worth to mention is Maverick Carter “Big Mav”. Starr’s father inspires his kids with black pride, and he draws inspiration from Malcom X and the Black Power Movement. He runs a grocery store in the neighborhood, and he protects the neighborhood rather than relying on the police. He is also ignorant to the difficult reality they are facing in Garden Heights and refusing to move. When Starr was born, Maverick was imprisoned. Due to this, Uncle Carlos had a father role the first years of Starr’s life. Maverick therefore still has anger towards his wife’s brother, because he got to be a part of the childhood he missed out on. Maverick’s garden, specifically his roses mirrors his personality and how he cares for his three kids. The roses are also a symbol to represent his parenting. He says that roses need conversation to grow, and we see that conversations are a big part of his parenting style. In fact, his kids are the only thing that breaks though his ideals. When Starr was threatened by the gang leader, Maverick decided to move his family out of Garden heights. 

The language in the novel is informal and there is a lot of slang. This makes the book more interesting, and it helps us really getting Starr’s view of things and the way her and her family speaks. The slang also forwards the culture and the way they behave towards different kinds of people.  

The Hate U Give includes several important themes such as police brutality, racialized poverty and identity. As mentioned above, Starr switched up between to identities. She always adapts her manners, behavior and language to fit in wherever she is. 

Maverick, Starrs father, explains to her that widespread racism keeps black communities away from resources and financial opportunities. He also explains how poverty feeds on itself that way, which is affecting generations of black families. This “cycle” traps many of the characters in The Hate U Give, where they cannot escape poverty without relying on drug dealing and gangs. Maverick himself, joined a gang to feel secure, as he was born to a drug dealer. Khalil sold drugs only to help his mother out with her debt, and he felt pressured to provide his family. 

The novel brings up how the society uses stereotypes of black people to justify violence, crime and racism against them. In other words: white people make it seem OK that black people are being exposed for violence and racism, just because what they see as a black stereotype is a thug. Now this brings me to the title of the book, and the use of symbolism. The title of the book is The Hate U Give. The first letter of every word spells out T.H.U.G. A thug is defined as a violent person who commits crimes. It says nothing about color, race or ethnicity. It is a negative loaded word, which is often used against black people in certain environments, even tough they aren’t criminal or violent. A thug is what many people might see as the stereotypical black person who lives in “the hood”. Even though that’s far from the truth.

While listening to Tupac’s song T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E., Maverick, Starrs father, explains to her that widespread racism keeps black communities away from resources and financial opportunities. He also explains how poverty feeds on itself that way, which is affecting generations of black families. This “cycle” traps many of the characters in The Hate U Give, where they cannot escape poverty without relying on drug dealing and gangs. Maverick himself, joined a gang to feel secure, as he was born to a drug dealer. Khalil sold drugs only to help his mother out with her debt, and he felt pressured to provide his family. 

The line “The Hate U Give Little Infants Fucks Everybody” is repeated a number of times. It is a line from Tupac Shakurs song T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E.  Tupac is known as one of the most successful rappers of all time. He was a big role model for black people, and still is – as we hear in the book. He was shot and killed in 1996, only 25 years old. The killer was never known. Tupac is not the only historical person mentioned in the novel. Names such as Malcom X and Emmett Till are re going often. Both important people in black history, both brutally murdered. The Hate U Give is comparing racism and police brutality today, to historical events for black rights. Historical things such as slavery and the Black Panthers are also mentioned. That gives us the view of how history is repeating itself, and how racism still exists.

The Hate You Give is not only a novel, it is an important book which is based on several true events. Yes, people have been shot just like Khalil did. Innocent people, and it has happened lately. White people are still superior in the courtrooms. People need to be aware of these things, and they need to hear the messages this book has. Not only that Khalil and Natasha had their lives taken, but also how Starr stands up for herself both to her racist friend and to the grand jury. It is a novel which is confronting the society, and exactly what ignorant people need to hear.