Nov 2, 2018
Biggest Takeaways
- The Hate You Give is a powerful story about a young black girl who witnesses the murder of her childhood friend at the hands of a police officer.
- The book is always, always better than the movie – but The Hate You Give comes pretty close.
- The issues that THUG touches on are ones that many people are struggling with today – racism, profiling, poverty, lack of privilege, and violence are everyday challenges for many.
- Awareness, authenticity, and trust are key in diffusing racial tension.
- It’s important to have the conversations, lean in, speak your truth, and seek understanding. Ignorance is not acceptable.
- Trust = Behavior + Time
- The power to change the world happens when we get to know each other well enough to share our stories. ~ Kellye Abernathy
- The answer is love. Once you’re open to it, everything changes. ~ Raven Robinson
Questions to Share with Your Teen
- Which character did you identify with the most in THUG? Why?
- Starr felt she had to be two different people to survive in the two worlds she lived in. When have you ever felt like you had to change who you are or how you act in order to be accepted?
- What do you think inspired Angie Thomas to write this story? What do you think she’s trying to change in the world with THUG?
- Starr realizes that Khalil is working for King and selling drugs. She knows that it’s because he’s trying to provide for his sick grandmother and his sisters. When, if ever, is it okay to do something wrong in order to survive? Was there a different choice could Khalil have made?
- In both the book and the movie, Starr was taught how to respond if she was stopped by the police. Why do you think Khalil didn’t follow those same “rules”? Would he still be alive if he had?
- In the movie, Uncle Carlos admits that even he would hesitate in the same situation if Khalil had been a white man in a suit with a nice car. Why do you think there is a difference?
- Before reading (or seeing) THUG, what did you know about police shootings? How has THUG changed your perspective?
- Reading or seeing THUG brings up the idea of privilege. Where do you see privilege in your own life?
- What did you learn or discover by reading or watching THUG? How has it made you look at the world differently? What would it look like to take action on that new knowledge?
Referenced in this Episode
Raven Robinson, also known as Raven Love, is a 26-year-old with two beautiful sons, who grew up on the north side of St. Louis City where many have little or no access to the relationships and/or resources that would improve and enrich their lives. She is a full-time employee at Quest Diagnostics and she is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Leadership and Management. She loves to encourage, motivate, and inspire others by sharing her story through speaking. She’ll be launching a blog in 2019 to form a sisterhood and to help many women be aware of self-love.
Kellye Abernathy is a writer, a yoga instructor, an advocate, and a mentor. She is a lover of all things book-related and is passionate about being in relationship with and learning from extraordinary women.
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