Starr Carter’s Struggle with Racial Injustice and Socioeconomic Status

The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas, explores the topic of race in America through the eyes of the main character, Starr Carter. Starr, a teenage black girl, lives in the poor neighborhood of Garden Heights while attending the predominantly white Williamson Prep school. Starr finds herself in the distinct situation of grappling with two divergent and diametrically opposed worlds. Deeply entrenched in both the “Black Lives Matter” and “Police Lives Matter” movements, Starr and her family endure racial discrimination while living in a poor neighborhood plagued by drug and gun violence.

Her life experiences significantly differ from those of her white friends, creating a sense of conflict within her identity, and shaping her choices and relationships as she navigates these dual worlds.

Throughout The Hate U Give, Starr’s socioeconomic status and race influence her as she attempts to balance her dual identity at Williamson Prep and in Garden Heights. Her unique situation prompts her to modify her identity to fit into these different social settings, which, in turn, causes conflict with her peers at school. At the start of the story, Starr points out, “I’m cool by default because I’m one of only a few black kids here. I have to earn coolness in Garden Heights, and that’s more challenging than buying retro Jordans on release day.” Unlike her time at school, Starr’s neighborhood does not define her by the color of her skin. She observes that her friends enjoy discussing the entertaining aspects of black culture but shy away from acknowledging the violence and poverty. She remarks, “Funny how it works with white kids, though. It’s dope to be black until it’s tough to be black.” In Williamson, Starr subconsciously adjusts her speech to blend in with her white friends, leading to judgement when she returns to her neighborhood.

Starr is then faced with the harsh reality of racial inequality when a police officer pulls her over. After escaping violence at a party with an old friend, Khalil, Starr vividly recalls her father’s advice: “Star-Starr, you do whatever they tell you to do, keep your hands visible. Don’t make any sudden moves. Only speak when they speak to you.” This counsel, which could have been a matter of life and death for Khalil, is something Starr will need throughout her life. This traumatic event marks Starr’s first direct encounter with racial injustice and police brutality. She witnesses her friend, Khalil, being fatally shot because of his race. She experiences firsthand the grim reality that black people often have to behave differently than whites to decrease the chances of being killed, as if the unspoken rule is to comply or die. Khalil serves as a tragic example of a person killed not for his actions, but his appearance.

The tension between Starr’s two worlds continues as she navigates her relationship with her white boyfriend, Chris. Starr flashes back again while holding Chris’s hand: “I kneel beside my dead friend in the middle of the street with my hands raised. A cop as white as Chris points a gun at me. I flinch and snatch away.” Khalil’s death, and Chris’s race and wealth cause Starr to initially struggle to trust him and causing conflict in their relationship. It is difficult for her to come to terms with the fact that the cop who killed Khalil because he was black is the same skin color as Chris. She recognizes that his wealth and race enable him to live in a safer, easier world than her, a world he might never understand. When Chris asks Starr about their drifting relationship, she replies, “You’re white, I’m black. You’re rich. I’m not.” Chris tries to assure her, saying “that stuff doesn’t matter,” but Starr counters that “that stuff is a part of me.” The differences between them threaten their relationship from Starr’s perspective, while Chris remains more optimistic. While Chris is trying hard to understand Starr and her life, Starr is attempting to reconcile her two identities.

In the end, Starr’s brutal experiences have forever changed her life. From quiet and unsure, she transitions to being passionately loud and determined to fight for justice in the black community: “Kahlil, I will never forget; I’ll never give up; I’ll never be quiet. People are realizing and shouting and marching and demanding. They’re not forgetting.” While Starr may not be able to fix racial injustices immediately, her struggles teach her the importance of speaking up and seeking common ground. She has a foot in two different worlds – one trapped in poverty, the other privileged. Racial injustice and her socioeconomic status both contribute to the conflicts in her life. These crucial elements influence her decisions and eventually shape her identity.

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