“I want people to understand why we say ‘Black Lives Matter,’ " Thomas explains.
I want them to mourn for Tamir as if he was their child.”
After gunshots disperse the crowd, Khalil drives Starr home.
In one fell swoop, she loses both her childhood friend and what’s left of her childhood.
The film also paints a detailed picture of life in a working-class black community.
“Being black is an honor because you come from greatness,” Mav tells them.
“I think Angie captured authentic life, and specifically authentic black life,” she says.
“The characters were just so real and palpable.”
For Stenberg, the juxtaposition of Starr’s dual identities underlines the injustices in black and brown communities today.
It is in this moment that Starr’s anger rises to the surface.
WhileThe Hate U Giveis centered on the African-American community, its resonance reaches beyond.
Starr’s internal struggle echoes that of many second-generation children who juggle dueling cultures.
Keeping with the coming-of-age themes, Thomas saysThe Hate U Giveshows teenagers dealing with “very adult things.”
In doing so, she was inspired by her character’s discovery of the power of her voice.
“I was learning how to stop holding my tongue, because Starr’s not afraid to.”
