The Hate You Give, written by Angie Thomas, is a story of a 16-year-old black girl, Starr Carter who lives two lives. One is her school life in an uptown upper-class white school and her second is her home life in a dangerous American getto, Garden Heights. Starr is drawn to activism after she individually witnesses the police shooting of her black childhood best friend, Khalil. And the reality of racism and difference between her two worlds is exposed to her.

The book The Hate You Give is about a young black woman growing up and finding her voice. Starr is forced to grow up quickly, by her parents so she can be aware of the danger her life holds. From an extremely young age, Starr is forced to grow up and learn the consequences she has placed on her ,in life, due to the colour of her skin. Her father who is a loving and caring man, who had been caught up in crime in the past, makes no mistake in educating his children from birth about the cruel racist world they live in. And teaches them strategies they can use to survive in it. “When I was twelve, my parents had two talks with me. One was the usual bird and bees… The other was about what to do if a cop stopped me” – Starr

The Hate You Give is about standing up and being heard. This novel illustrates the minimal rights African American people have even today, in America and around the world. Starr witness first hand her best friend Khali being shot by a police officer because the officer thought Khalil was reaching for a gun, instead he was reaching for a hair comb. The fact that the police officer shot before checking, before even taking any other action goes to show that he believed his white privilege life to be above Khalils. It also highlights prejudice and stereotypes that the police officer assumed Khalil to be doing something he was not.

Starr has to split herself into two parts to fit into her one world. And when Starr becomes the sole witness of her best friend Khalil being shot she chose to stand up and fight for him. “What’s the point in having a voice if your gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be”- Starr. The major theme of the book is racism and how it manifests in violence and police brutality. Starr is threatened to not speak out about what happened Khalil but when she gathers great strength and does, her bravery is meet with minimal action or support by the US government and police. “Once upon a time there was a hazel-eyed boy with dimples. I called him Khalil. The world called him a thug. He lived, but not nearly long enough, and for the rest of my life, I’ll remember how he died. Fairy tale? No. But I’m not giving up in a better ending” -Starr

This novel made an impact. I know that racism runs wild today but to have is demonstrated so raw and blunt just angers me. Racism in the hand of a supposed ‘peacekeeper’. Racism in the hand of the institution. Starr witnesses her best friend be shot by a police officer and when she stood up for justice and spoke out about what she witnessed the only consequence was a paid suspension for the cop in question. This is not justice. This book highlights the injustice threaded through our modern society today. And illustrates pathetic action we have put forward to stop it.

The Novel The Hate You Give is based on true reality. How are African Americans able to climb out and above their suppressive prejudice when the constitution and law enforcers still don’t even show liberty? Donanld Trump, the president of the United States, has already signaled to police that he is in “their corner” when it comes to police brutality and has made remarks suggesting that he “didn’t really mind a little police brutality here and there”. In 2016 233 African Americans were shot and killed by police despite only making up 13% of the US population. According to the Washington Post, black Americans are “2.5 times more likely to be shot and killed by police officers”. Modern policing did not evolve into an organised institution until the 1830s and ’40s. But when Africa Americans fled the horrors of the Jim crow South they became victim to a new regimen of racism in the North. A regime that that we have normalised and accepted so much that it still exists today.

This is not a dig at police officers. Not a callout against our justice system. Police brutality doesn’t prove that our police force is an evil racists cult. It proves that our whole society and world is overflowing with such extreme prejudice, hate, racism and white supremacy that it goes onto effect, brainwash and sculptor all people including our police. I praise all men and woman that put on their uniforms and put themselves in danger each day to enforce our laws and keep us safe. However, I do not praise the racists prejudice that in-beads itself through human morals globally. Police brutality and The Hate You Give are just examples of the effect this mindset has on society.