You Might Have Missed: 'The Hate U Give'
The Hate U Give’s take on police brutality feels real and relevant.
By ASHLEY RAYFORD
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From the mind of best-selling writer Angie Thomas comes the movie The Hate U Give, based on Thomas’s acclaimed YA novel. This award-nominated movie from 2018 perfectly balances a message against police brutality with elements of humor and some of the best parts of black culture. Most importantly, it's real, and tells the world the often untold stories of communities of color who are impacted by police brutality.
The story starts with 16-year-old Starr Carter (played by Amandla Stenberg), who lives in the predominantly black neighborhood Garden Heights but goes to Williamson Prep, a school whose student body is predominantly white and rich. When her childhood best friend falls victim to police brutality with Starr as the sole witness, the divide between her two worlds starts to blur. We follow her compelling story as she deals with gang members, the press, protests, and the people she believes to be her friends.
Amandla Stenberg plays 16-year-old Starr Carter, who attends a predominantly rich, white high school.
The movie is phenomenal in its accurate presentation of black culture. It addresses the well-known conversational tactic of code-switching, dealing with microaggressions, and never really being yourself in predominantly white communities. Other things it gets right include: box braids always fitting the occasion, your mother always being right about your friends, and the special significance of names. But the most important part? It captures the fears black people have about the police. The film depicts the conversations that every black American child has with their parents where we learn to never talk to police officers unless spoken to, keep our hands visible, and to record interactions when necessary. It also shows police brutality very well, which has relevance even today.
“I’ve seen all the police brutality going on over the years, and I think this movie puts it all into limelight,” said African American student Bolonle Orioke ‘22.
The movie also captures the moments when each child in the Carter family realizes they live in a world where some people will see their color first and not them.
One weakness in the movie is the depiction of the white kids at Williamson prep. They all seem clueless. In this day and age, we've all unfortunately become aware of issues in the police infrastructure. This cluelessness was embodied by Starr’s boyfriend Chris (played by K.J. Apa). He didn't seem to understand that being black was part of Starr’s identity, or that race isn't a simple thing, or how people in the white community often try to emulate black culture while still benefiting from their privilege. This depiction felt a little behind the times.
Jason Margheni ‘22 said he learned a lot from the movie. “With the way that I was born, I never experienced the discrimination and stereotyping that the movie depicts,” he said. “I realized the privilege that I really did have. Seeing the scene where the police pulled them over and the situation quickly turned violent, I was shocked.”
With all being said, The Hate U Give is definitely worth a watch. It is, as Miera Blakney ‘22 says, a must-watch.
“Age group is an important factor,” she said. “The earlier children learn this [the message of the film], the better it’ll be for society as a whole.”
★★★★★