Mohamed El Sheikh Mr. Wachowiak American Literature 07 October 2024 The Racism in The Hate U Give Thomas’s novel, The Hate U Give, focuses on the problem of racism, mainly on how it affects Starr Carter and her community. The story revolves around Starr, an African American teenager who witnesses the killing of her friend Khalil by a white police officer. This traumatic event not only influences Starr personally, but also demonstrates the bigger issue of systemic racism, especially within the justice system. Thomas uses Khalil’s death to show how Black individuals are unfairly treated, and how the media often ignores their deaths. In the words of Starr, “I can’t be quiet”. I can’t sit back and let this happen”(Thomas, 123). This quote points to the urgency of Starr’s struggle and her response to the harsh realities her community faces. …show more content…
Khalil’s shooting displays this. Although he was unarmed, the officer who shot him is not held accountable. This relates to real-world incidents where police officers are rarely punished after killing unarmed Black individuals. Starr struggles with the difficulty of speaking out against such a powerful system, which reflects the reality of many who challenge social injustice. Starr says, “I’ve seen it all too often, the way the system treats people like Khalil”(Thomas 207), acknowledging her growing awareness of the systemic failure that affects her community. The novel also explores the tragic misunderstanding that led to Khalil’s death: “A hairbrush”. Khalil died over a fucking hairbrush”(Thomas 12). This line reveals the silliness and senselessness of the situation, showing how a small, everyday object can have devastating consequences in the sense of racial