3rd Reading log

Annabel Carter

The hate you give 

(Novel)

“What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be?”

The hate you give is a book based on the following events of white privilege, community and the criminal justice system. We believe every person should have a right to an education, food, water and shelter. A right of treating everyone with the same respect and attitude disregarding any colour, religion or sexual orientation. This novel portrays a first person’s outlook on events which highlight each of these categories and a families ultimate fight for justice. 

The story follows a 16 year old black girl named Starr Carter and her life within a white privileged school. Starr moves between worlds; the poor neighbourhood where she lives and the fancy white suburban prep school she attends. Her life is complicated on a day to day basis but when she witnesses the fatal shooting of her best friend Khalil at the hands of a white police officer her life shatters into pieces. By 16 star becomes the protagonist of the book as she deals with the loss of two of her best friends, all of whom are coloured, one by gang violence and one from the bullet of a white police officer. As the sole and only witness of the fatal shooting of Khalil the novel follows Stars overwhelming pressure of testifying before the grand jury to seek justice in Khalil’s name. As the incident unfolds within court, Stars two worlds begin to collide, in weekdays she is attended a prestigious private school where there she is known as the one “black girl”, while on the weekends she comes home to a suburban neighbourhood ridiculed with gang violence and drugs. Her former gang member dad is fighting to make their neighbourhood a better place while her mum is suggesting to move completely out to keep the family safe. 

The theme of justice begins when Star begins fighting in court for Khalil’s justice a new narrative begins, one that points at Khalil’s actions towards the white suburban cop, this being portrayed as a heavy drug user that threatened a cop with a “deadly weapon”. This “deadly weapon” was a hairbrush. Star has a great sense of courage and challenges these false statements in court which is framing her best friend out to be someone he is not. The novel begins to highlight the important issues of interracial teenagers in this time. The intimate first person account shows Stars full emotional response through the shock, pain and outrage of the aftermath of these shootings. 

As a result of this the reader is able to see the full complexity of their lives as they may be going through or have seen similar experiences in life which connects the reader on a deeper understanding. The novel goes on to show credible counter-arguments against Star and her neighbourhood and the court of law, these different narratives are often presented by authoritarian figures above Star and her race which are echoed by media outlets showing recent shootings of young black men. The hate you give confronts the reader of just how much racialized violence is taken out on young black youth and illustrates how young people of colour like Star who might speak out front to defend their late friends or family members will be unfairly criticized for their actions to take back justice. This novel understands deeply the real dangers young people of colour are having against white cops and the criminal justice system. 

Once again “The deceased get put on trial, rather than their killers”. 

I personally believe this novel portrays the black society and problems with white police officers so honestly, the challenges they face on a day to day basis makes me wonder how lucky I am to be where I am today. I do not face these problems and can only imagine how hard it would be living your life as today may be your last.