WEEK THREE-1. The Hate U Give

Chapter 8

Starr's family arrives at Khalil's funeral. She peaks into his casket, where he looks like a mannequin with all the makeup. She tries to distract herself by looking at the program with a picture of the trio, Khalil, Natasha, and Starr. It hits her that she is the only one left. Hearing his classmates talk about memories she does not know of, makes her uncomfortable sitting in the front row at a prominent position. The funeral proceeds and a member of an organization called Just Us for Justice inform the congregation that One-Fifteen (the police that killed Khalil) had been unarmed. Starr is out of words for this.

Before the service concludes, King Lord's storm in a place a bandana on Khalil's chest, which is a signal for being a member of the King Lords. Starr questions whether Khalil had been lying to Starr because that bandana is indisputable evidence. As Starr and her family make their way out of the church, the member of Just Us for Justice came to talk to them. She approaches the family to commend Starr on her bravery in speaking to the police. Since she appears to be a lawyer, she gives Starr her card because this will sooner or later become national news.

Thoughts

It is no new news, but within this chapter, shocking phrases pop up one after another and make me want to share them all here on this blog. However, that would be an excessive amount of information. I've never felt such a strong necessity for everyone to read this book and this novel would have no better explanation but "A MUST-READ". The simple person I am tries to avoid too deep of a novel because I'd rather spend my leisure time reading something uplifting or sentimental. However, when it comes to such a jam-packed educating novel, it really just is "a must-read", no other words. 

What I have realized in this chapter that ALL her expressions that leave her mouth regard or relate to people's skin tone. When describing other characters, they inevitably have an adjective about their race. No matter if it is talking about a guy on the street, a closeby neighborhood, a teacher, her boyfriend, herself, everyone in her vicinity, or thing that encompasses reaches the reader with a description of the race. This is a symbolistic method or personality trait that shows how deeply this concept is tied to her brain and that it is what she is constantly thinking about. I am sure this applies to other black people, and not just Starr. I've read online that many are so confident and proud to be black, which is beyond phenomenal. However, for Starr to have reached this mindset, I am sure much of it has to do with negative memories. 

Chapter 9

Riots and protesting happens in Starr's neighborhood whilst dinner time. Lisa insists her children go into the den, and they stay there until four in the morning, below the trajectory of stray bullets. In addition to peaceful protesting, riots and looting rack the neighborhood. The cops respond to the chanting and riots with tear gas and machine guns. The family watches the news on television as they broadcast making it seem like Khalil's death was his own fault. On the news, a lot is said about Khalil but nothing makes up for his death.

The following morning, Starr's brother Seven convinces her to go play basketball outside in the park to comfort her and experience the 'normal'. His brother tried to help them escape from the mournful atmosphere. Maverick (their dad) drive up and catch them playing ball in the court and shout at them for leaving without informing the parents. The family decides to spend a few nights at Uncle Carlos's because of the safer environment there. Dangers inherent in Starr's neighborhood and the risks are said to only escalate from that day forward. Chris, Starr's boyfriend lives across the street from Uncle Carlos and comes over to check on Starr and apologize. Starr reluctantly explains it is not what he thinks it is and does not give further clarification on her moodiness. 

Starr elucidates that these problems she coping with can not be understood by Chris, for him being white. Chris fights back that that does not matter to him. Starr rebuts that they are undeniabally a noteworthy characteristic that makes up her identity. Eventually, Starr makes up her mind and chooses to not tell Chris about Khalil so in front of him, she stays the 'normal' she aspires to be. 

Thoughts 

On the back cover of this hard-copy, Stylist has commented that this book "places a spotlight on Black Lives Matter", and I could not agree more. The way the author shows racism and unfairness is so abrupt yet natural, meaning that rude word choices and thoughts that black people have to do due to systemic racism emerges in a typical lifestyle. The color of their skin defines how they are thought to be by outsiders and becomes something they have to take precautions about every single day of their life. So this book truly shines those obscure/dark realities and makes them noticeable for even people like myself. 

This particular chapter has made me perceive or reestablish that there are certain things black people can say but no matter the circumstance others can not. Even though they may be joking and saying these phrases, I have no right, whatsoever to speak racist words. As obvious as it may sound, I think the reason racism appears in daily lifestyles, or the minority feel oppressed is due to this misunderstanding. 

Last year when BLM reached the eyes of many and awoke profused amounts of people, I apprehended that segregation against black people is still very existent and entrenched today. So I became curious about when this book what written. However, I quickly realized I can not do any research about the book so I refrained to do so. 

Her parents and family teach her to act in certain ways or become a person she isn't. At first, I thought this was a little deleterious and toxic. Be that as it may, the truth is they do not have much choice. It's the society that decides her identity and the role she needs to be playing in this meticulous world. I thought that the reality portrayed in this novel shows a juxtaposition between those of the minority and the majority. They are so far apart, and how passionate you may be, regarding BLM physical and systemic change is needed so people do not have to contemplate how to act, every second of the day so their life is not at risk. 

Chapter 10

As they make their way back to Garden Heights (the neighborhood they reside in), Starr and Lisa stop at a police roadblock. Flashbacks of Khalil hit Starr and she panics imagining the officers shooting her. They pass the roadblock with no difficulty whatsoever and Lisa assures Starr that they will be fine. However, words that use to have power do not any more, after you've held two people as they took their last breaths. 

Starr sits in the car with her dad, on the way to a mall and mentions that Khalil talked about Thug Life immediately before 'the incident'. She says that it implies the life black people and minorities have to live. Maverick(her dad) says that society fears the minorities even though they are the ones oppressed. Maverick questions Starr what is with all the "hate" and has her considering the reason to why Khalil sealed drugs. Starr realizes that black people don't have many options to make money and Maverick teachers Starr that originates from inadequate schools and lack of opportunities. Correspondigly, drug addicts emerge and vast businesses do not hire former criminals. These cycles of oppressing black people and excluding them, this system, is "Thug Life". Starr is infuriated and knows she can no longer stay silent.

Daughter and Father return to the store, and DeVante interrupts the two. Despite the store being closed, he vigorously knocks on the door. DeVante admits he is hiding from the Kings and Maverick who has much responsibility regarding the Kings decides to help him escape gang life. Starr shows an obvious disapproving behavior against DeVante due to him dating Denasia, yet still talking to Kenya, Starr's friend. DeVante laments that he did not date Denasia and does not have to do with all the drama. 

Subsequent to a series of events, Starr eavesdrops on Lisa and Maverick talking about moving out of the neighborhood. Lisa berates Maverick from causing such danger and risks to the house hold and asserts that moving is the best decision. On the other hand, Maverick holds an opposing opinion towards this because he wants to teach his children to not betray their community and work towards fixing and uniting it. 

Thoughts

I can't imagine how it is to put into words and speak that 'we are at the bottom of society, oppressed and poor'. Such detrimental and hurtful definitions of oneself. Negative words like these should not be written consecutively like that and I just can not wrap my head around having 'subordinate roles' even exist in society. 

I personally enjoyed this chapter because it was educational and the dad talks were so deep. Since this novel is written in first-person, it felt as if I was receiving these talks and lessons from Maverick as well. He elaborated on racism and why Khalil had no choice but to become a drug dealer. It is the system. The lack of opportunities, inadequate schools, and never-changing beliefs against black people. This realization hit hard. A system fabricated against the minority, so harsh, yet left me so powerless. I think this kind of 'systematic problem' applies to so many different genres of minorities, not just black people. All the protests, the wants to change makes so much more sense to me now from this book even after trying to educate myself when BLM swept the internet like wildfire last year. 

Regarding the argument between Starr's parents on moving out of the neighborhood or not was complex. Maverick being in prison and for have repeated the mistakes his father did, it is understandable that maverick feels the responsibility to do better things for their neighborhood. Yet, Lisa trying to save her children and family is equally as agreeable, and neither prevail over each other, in my opinion.