WEEK TWO. The Hate U Give

    I am recently on a roller coaster of emotions, and my sentiments are scattered all over the place.  Looking at the headlines of copious news reporting platforms, the sentimental person I am has made me overwhelmed by all that is happening to the world. Reading headlines about how Covid-19 has exacerbated too many problems in the world is petrifying, and this current situation is in no way optimal, so my small problems seem like they aren't worth much thought. Notwithstanding the uncertainty and epidemic, that does not make it fair for myself or anyone else to invalidate their feelings. School has just started and honestly speaking, going to school on a congested train is concerning. However, reading for pleasure and being able to submerge into a novel has been therapeutic. Moreover, reading about a topic that was obscure only until a few months ago gives me other things to think about. 

Chapter 6

Starr panics as she walks into the police office with Lisa (her mom). Her eyes follow the guns the officers hold and her mom suggests going home, but Starr insists to get it done with that today. She keeps in mind the rules being taught by her father when talking to the police. The detective questions Starr, why Khalil was at the party that night, whether he had been drinking that night, what they talked about, etc, and had Starrr wondering the necessity of asking those questions. Starr drips a salty tear as she reaches the fatal moment when One-Fifteen (the police that killed Khalil) told Khalil to stay put. The detective notes that Khalil did not do what he was told, but Starr snaps back and firmly opposes that Khalil did not shoot himself. The detectives slightly twist Starr's words throughout the investigation, but she does not let that happen. Irritated as she is, Starr refuses them to think she is a 'ghetto' so she perseveres in speaking in a polite tone. 

As she swallows the lump in her throat, the detective abruptly asks if Starr knows anything about Khalil's drug dealing. Lisa interrupts the conversation and snaps back that the question is irrelevant. From that moment on, Starr realizes their tactics and where they are going with this. After a few more heated up moments, Starr and her mother leave knowing that no justice will be served. 

Thoughts

Reading chapter two was in some ways pitiful. When Starr was undergoing investigation, reading her point of view made every cop in that room seem so evil and loathsome. Their word choice was so deliberate and in no way were they trying to gain justice for Khalil. 

On the contrary, Starr and her mother showcased such a strong bond against the detectives. The telepathy, actions, kindness, warmth from Starr's mom was truly heartening.

The police officer who shot Khalil sunk his head in his hands right after shooting him. Logically thinking he would be put on trial, but all the detectives are doing is justifying the police's wrongful acts.

This made me as a reader infuriated, exasperated, and left me in disbelief. Starr's pure feelings and thoughts neatly yet so straight-forwardly depicted, are so inclusive and before I even know it, my feelings are symmetrical to hers. The way she speaks is full of passion and so meaningful that I can feel the message she is trying to appeal to the readers. Nevertheless, what she is trying to convey has to do with the life of herself, her family, and all black people. The alarmingly distressing story we need to hear to be awakened. 

Chapter 7

Starr and her two white best friends are playing a three on three matches against the boys, one of them being Chris, her boyfriend. When Chris scores, one of her teammates Hailey jokes and tells Starr to chase the ball as if it is a fried chicken. Immediately, Starr bursts into tears and runs to the locker room. Hailey protests that it was fried chicken day at the cafeteria and it is wrong of Starr to accuse her of racism. Hailey and Maya, her two best friends confront that Starr has been acting weird for the past week and asks for an explanation. They wonder if it is because of the death of Khalil, the drug dealer, after hearing it on the news. She realizes that the television news has now labeled Khalil as a drug dealer and the public perceives him as just a drug dealer. The two are starring daggers at Starr and continue to inundate her by interrogating Starr on her odd mood. 

The coach walks into the locker room and suggests Starr go meet the school council. Starr strongly refuses and fears being seen as a week black girl. It is certain the school council will not comfort her in any way shape or form, and yearned to go home, so Starr calls Uncle Carlos and has him pick her up. They talk about Khalil's funeral that is happening the next day. Starr then asks Uncle Carlos (a police officer), if he is friends with One-Fifteen (the one who killed Khalil), and he denies it. In the last few lines of the chapter, she blurts out, that on the day of the incident, the gun was pointed at her as well.

Thoughts

The scene where Starr's friends make a racist joke and then remarks she is not racist provoked quite a few thoughts and feelings in me. The majority of us do not think we are racist and will never deliberately say something racist, but when reading about such an obvious mistake, I realized this is something that applies to all of us.  What is there for a white person to speak? 

Another small thing that shone a spotlight on BLM was the simple instructions given by Lisa to Starr. I am not at all accustomed to being strictly told to lock the door and never respond to any knocking, and most definitely not to open the door for anyone. These are things we do not even have to think about in our lives, so a particular example like this hit me hard as for my privileges. 

Regarding the BLM movement, 'white privilege' is a phrase frequently used by social media users. I am not white, but I still consider myself privileged. The more I flip through the pages of this book, the more surprised I get by how racism literally permeates society and could be ingrained into every conversation we have. I dislike how she emphasizes that crying makes her a weak black girl, and calls herself a 'latchkey kid'. My heart aches to hear so. However, there is nothing for me to say and I believe I have no right to articulate my scattered thoughts because the reality they face and experience is what is most true in society. 

On a lighter note, I was simply surprised by one of the terminologies used in the book. Starr's uncle, who is a cop is asked by Starr, whether he is friends with the cop who killed Khalil. His reply to that was he is on a "first-name basis" with One-Fifteen. I had always thought that differentiating or even being conscious of first names and last names is a very-Japanese-thing. At first, I read those lines in slight incredulity, but I've learned that after all the concept of 'names' isn't totally non-existent in other countries as well!