Book & Movie Review: 'The Hate U Give'

Angie Thomas has a gift for restraint. Not every description was flawless, every metaphor wasn’t Shakespearean — and in real life they never are. She crafted a character that was human. A character that reflected the mind of a young Black teen. Growing up where those in our community, and those we encounter in school, sometimes differ. Where we let some things slide due to the naivety of believing that our non-Black counterparts loved us “beyond the color of our skin”. When the fried chicken and Kool-Aid jokes just stopped being funny, because it no longer ends with just the joke, or stops at the blackface prom-posal – but an older version of that white friend holding the life of a young black person in their hands, a 2019 lynching, or the election of Donald Trump.

Over the past couple of years, I have avoided books like The Hate U Give. Seeing black death in every news cycle, the arguments on social media over who’s lives really matter, and the people reposting videos of black people being beaten, shot, and ultimately murdered as a result of state sanctioned violence as a way to spread what I felt that I already knew was happening to our people – I was tired. My mind could not take another minute of consuming media that spoke about black death. Reading was my only real sanctuary, and I chose to fall into worlds of fantasy. Where children grow to become powerful wizards who defeat evil, where robots are taking over the world and someone must stop them, and even some sappy teen-romance novels where the climax is a tearful breakup. After the election of 45, I dug myself deeper into this hole of wanting to escape reality. When the debut novel by Angie Thomas was released in 2017, I heard buzz in the literary community, and even purchased a copy for one of my close friends. I saw rave reviews online, news about an upcoming film adaption, followed by drama surrounding the casting, but still could not bring myself to read the novel.

As time was winding down until the end of my college career, I took a walk in Barnes & Nobles. As I eyed each book in the young-adult section, I saw The Hate U Give. Knowing how in demand this novel was, and in a more relaxed mood I decided to purchase it (plus it was 20% off). Returning home, I sat the book on my shelf and did not pick it back up.

2 months later, and after a 9:30PM cup of coffee, I cracked open the book and prayed to God that I wouldn’t cry. Long story short – I cried, my hands shook, and I couldn’t close it until my eyes scanned the final words.

Khalil, I’ll never forget you.

I’ll never give up.

I’ll never be quiet.

I promise.

The Hate U Give was not a forced depiction of black life, not an idealized version of what it meant to live in a neighborhood where gunshots are background noise – meant for a white audience to ooh and ahhh over. Thomas did not feel the need to explain what did not need to be explained. Starr’s parents were complicated and flawed but loved and cared for their children and community. Seven was a computer geek from the hood with no basketball talent, and a love so strong for his sisters that he was willing to give up collegiate opportunities to protect them. Starr’s friends, who we are introduced to throughout the novel, are both right and wrong in their own individual ways. And this is, to me, where the movie fails.

I spent a great deal of time, after grunting and groaning at every slight change in the storyline, talking to my family members that had seen the film. While many, who had not read the book, loved the film – I was left dumbfounded that this book that left me breathless with every turn of the page, had been reduced to this.

One of the main issues was casting. When the film was first announced, along with Amandla Stenberg playing the coveted part of Starr, social media was set aflame. I was still unfamiliar with the storyline, but even by looking at the cover of the novel, Starr holds a particular identity. Holding a sign with the book title, is a young woman with dark brown skin and kinky natural hair held by a red headband. So, if the novel already gives you a visual of Starr, why divert from that depiction so drastically? The experiences of Starr in the novel are very specific to the life of a young black girl who does not necessarily meet the acceptable beauty standards of society. She’s not openly desired by the men she comes across, no one asks her “what she’s mixed with”, and she comes from a family that is very visibly Black with no additives. It would be fair to say that a girl of Amandla’s hue and appearance in general does not embody Starr. Does Amandla make Starr more palatable to white America? Yes. Does she make the relationship with Khalil more “picturesque”? Yes. And this is detrimental to the power that the novel held.

Issa Rae.

Common.

It’s a no, from me.

The Hate U Give debuted at #1 on the New York Times Bestseller’s list and just a little over 1 year late was adapted into a film. They decided to “strike while the iron is hot”, and while this seemed like a great movie, it also meant that the film needed to be a commercial success. And how do you do that? Pack as many popular Black names into the cast as possible – Amandla Stenburg, Russel Hornsby, Regina Hall, Issa Rae, Common, Anthony Mackie, Algee Smith. And while many of them did a great job, the weakest links were the downfall of the film. April Ofrah’s role in the story was monumental, and her speech at Khalil’s funeral sets off a string of key events. Issa Rae made a very emotional moment almost laughable. And Common completely lacks the range to play a complex character like Uncle Carlos.

But, nevertheless, The Hate U Give remains a great way to open the conversation of police brutality with today’s youth. There are discussion questions, and lesson plans available online for parents, community leaders, and educators, and schools are putting this novel into their libraries. Whether you choose the movie or the film, the simple fact that the work of Angie Thomas has resulted in a greater public interest in discussing real-life issues is amazing.