The Activism of Black People in The Hate U Give

 In Chapter seven of The Hate U Give, Starr says the only thing worse than being thought of as the angry black girl is being the weak black girl. This essay argues that Starr is really afraid of being considered weak; she feels like she can’t be herself, and that this is even worse than being weak. This assertion will be demonstrated in a number of ways, including most important a comparison with other controversial topics, an analysis of Thomas’s own declaration of her view of what she’s trying to across; and finally a close-reading of the book explaining the conflict.

“Once you’ve seen how broken someone is it’s like seeing them naked—you can’t look at them the same anymore.” (83) Being a black girl I get where Starr comes from. She continues to hide away her pain while still trying to be there for everyone else she cares about. In the book, Starr holds on both the secret of knowing who killed Natasha and humiliation of not being brave enough to tell someone. As a 16 year-old, Starr quickly learns that even if she does attempt to tell someone whether she witnesses a murder (or even everyday racist comments she recive) that the adults around her don’t always have the help she’s looking for.

Starr tries to stop the memories that bother her and try her best in becoming the kind of person her family and friends need her to be. She’s the obedient daughter for her parents, the one that never causes them trouble. For her friends, she’s the “non threatening black girl” who allows them to have a taste of what being Black is like. They use slang, rap the lyrics to the newest trap song while not knowing how it’s affecting Starr. To them slang makes them cool, but for Starr slang makes her hood. “Funny how it works with white kids though. It’s dope to be Black until it’s hard to be Black.” (11)

Later in the book, Starr can no longer keep up the double version of “Starr 2.0,” or that of the silent witness, after she sees her childhood best friend Khalil get killed. Her whole identity begins to changel. Starr emotions come to anger in the book where she goes up to her White best friend Hailey, who keep on saying that Khalil was a thug who would’ve been killed anyway because he was a threat to the public. People don't need to say the “N-word” to be racist or to hate Black people. Starr wanted Haliey to know that people who are not purposely racist can still say comments that are in fact racist.

Starr’s national television interview is a huge moment in her change from being too afraid and guilty to speak up to Khalil, to end up leading the protests against his death in Garden Height streets. “Ms. Ofrah said this interview is the way I fight. When you fight, you put yourself out there, not caring who you hurt or if you’ll get hurt. So I throw one more blow, right at One-Fifteen. I’d ask him if he wished he shot me too.” (290) Even though Starr doesn’t like violence, she understands how anger can turn into violence. Ms. Ofrah points out, Starr’s voice is the most useful weapon she has in fighting injustice.

The Hate U Give shows a powerful form of activism that will stay with us for a long time, the different scenes Thomas uses, it made me feel as if I were living Starr’s life with her. Thomas brought up these topics and made sure it’s going to be spoken about so change can be made, and get the attention of the public. This book helps remind people that society is making small steps towards equality for everyone but never to forget racism is still alive in the lives of black people.