The Hate U Give (2018) - Madison Yauslin

~ The Hate U Give ~

    The Hate U Give (2018) follows Starr, a Black teenager living in a poor, predominantly Black neighborhood, who hides aspects of her identity while attending a mostly white prep school. When her childhood friend, Khalil is shot and killed by a white police officer, Starr must decide whether she will break the divide in her double life and use her voice to speak out against the racial inequalities that Black communities face. The film addresses the stereotypes surrounding Black people and how these are used to justify systemic violence and racism.

~ Trailer ~

~ Scenes ~

The Hate U Give. Directed by George Tillman Jr., 2018.

Starr greets another Black student in her predominantly white prep school with a fist bump while her voiceover says, "Williamson is another world." 

The Hate U Give. Directed by George Tillman Jr., 2018.

Starr is participating in a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest that turns violent when the police arrive.

~ Significance ~ 

    The Hate U Give is based on the book by Angie Thomas, a Black woman who was inspired by The Black Lives Matter movement. During the time of the movie's release, there was a significant usage of the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter and peaceful protests against police brutality already, but this film made the issue personal to viewers. Not only did the movie speak out against systematic violence, stereotypes, activism, and racism, but it put a face to the issue. In doing so, it has given Black people the representation and position to tell their own stories. Most police officers that committed unwarranted acts of violence against Black members of their communities have not been held accountable for their actions and this film advocates for justice. 

~ Discussion Questions ~

1. The movie's title is derived from Tupac Shakur's THUG LIFE which is an acronym for "The Hate U Give Little Infants F--ks Everybody." What does this mean to you in this movie's context?

2. In the film, Starr's uncle is a police officer who works with the cop that shot her friend. How does this influence Starr's understanding of police brutality?

3. One of the quotes from the trailer is, "Violence, brutality. It's the same story, just a different name." What does the character mean by this?