The Hate U Give Themes

There are many themes and motifs which are explored in Angie Thomas’s groundbreaking novel, The Hate U Give, such as identity, family, and racism. However, amidst these pressing social concerns, one theme that sticks out is that of the Garden Heights community, a neighborhood struggling to maintain its identity in the face of adversity. Throughout the novel, Thomas portrays the resilience of the community, which highlights the challenges it faces while showcasing its unwavering determination. As Garden Heights navigates through tragedies and deaths, its people confront internal divisions, as well as external pressures from the media. The novel emphasizes the significance of community and the vital role it plays in shaping individual experiences.

The narrative shows how the community is like a small version of society. It highlights how problems, like unfairness and treating certain groups badly, happen in both the community and society in general. When Starr’s Uncle Carlos says "I knew that boy. Watched him grow up with you. He was more than any bad decision he made," he says. "I hate that I let myself fall into that mindset of trying to rationalize his death. And at the end of the day, you don't kill someone for opening a car door. If you do, you shouldn't be a cop." (pg. 256) This statement conveys the profound realization that one’s worth cannot be reduced to a single bad act or mistake. It shows the detrimental consequences of judging an individual just because they live in an underprivileged and represented area. In the Garden Heights community, the residents are quite aware of the stigma and prejudice they face due to negative stereotypes that have a connotation towards them. Even at school, Starr faces conflict, where she has to code switch and act differently so the “white” kids don’t think she’s hood. Uncle Carlos is also challenging a great power when he says that "I hate that I let myself fall into that mindset of trying to rationalize his death,” because he is going against all of his colleagues and the entire police force just to bring justice to Starr’s friend and

As Starr observes Chris and Maya walking through the gate of Uncle Carlos’s house, she experiences a surge of uneasiness in her stomach, for it is a reminder of the collision between her distinct personalities. She admits “I should be used to my two worlds colliding, but I never know which Starr I should be.” (pg. 357) This reflection encapsulates the struggle faced by many individuals who try to juggle and adapt to different cultural contexts. Starr finds herself caught between a delicate balancing act; using slang but not too much, carefully selecting her words and tone (code switching) to avoid being seen as a stereotypical “sassy black girl.” Starr is constantly on a tightrope walk, because she has to balance the authenticity and self-expression of herself, which can be destroyed by social expectations and stereotypes of how she should act or behave. Moreover, this struggle reveals the deeper significance of Garden Heights as a microcosm of a larger society. It mirrors the idea of greater powers taking over and making minorities conform, and there are many examples of this throughout history, a major one being abhorrent slavery of African American peoples. However, all that being said, some members of the Garden Heights community stand with Starr and when she is about to go on trial one of her neighbors states “All right now.” (pg. 282) While