The Hate U. G. Give The Hate You Give By Angie Thomas

Theme Analysis The Hate U. G. Give The Hate You Give is a young teen novel written by Angie Thomas. She wrote this book in the hopes of getting a strong theme across. That is the battle between race and identity. This internal conflict is one that many people have faced, but most importantly, the main character in the novel, Starr Carter. She faced this internal battle in everyday life. Starr’s life was anything but ordinary. Starr constantly felt the pressures of society push her into doing things she did not align with. With those fears bombarding her, she shrinks herself into a tight small space. Scared of what might happen if her true self were to come out and burst everywhere. Star goes to a primarily white school, Williamson High School.

That means flipping the switch in my brain, so I’m Williamson Starr. Williamson Starr doesn’t use slang––if a rapper would say it, she doesn’t say it, even if her white friends do. Slang makes them cool. Slang makes her “hood.” Williamson Starr holds her tongue when people piss her off, so nobody will think she’s the “angry black girl.” Williamson Starr is approachable. No stank-eyes, side-eyes, none of that. Williamson Starr is nonconfrontational. Basically, Williamson Starr doesn’t give anyone a reason to call her ghetto. I can’t stand myself for doing it, but I do it anyway” (Thomas Page 71). The list of how Starr forced herself to behave at her predominantly white school. She repressed her blackness to fit into the so-called “standard” at Willamson. So much to the point where it made her personality quieter and unable to express her discomfort every time someone brings up how Kahlil was “some drug dealer” She was too scared to even tell anybody she knew Kahlil in fear of what they might assume. This is the exact opposite of what her dad taught her, being strong and proud of her blackness. Starr's identity and blackness is something that she struggled with throughout the book. Kahlil’s death further pushed her into a small corner. She constantly feared what people might have thought of her if she was outed as the witness of his death. A big turning point in this novel was when Starr's close friend Kenya confronts her, ashamed when she found that Starr was the witness, and for so long she did not speak out. Starr became proactive in finding justice for Kahlil. She attended many active protests as well as spoke out on TV. Her efforts became clear. Starr's character development further pushes the theme of the battle between race and identity. Starr has figured out that in order to be at