The Hate U Give Lesson Plans (2023)

FAQs

What lesson does the Hate U Give teach? ›

The Hate U Give examines the way society uses stereotypes of black people to justify violence and racism against them. These stereotypes protect white communities, such as the students at Starr's school, Williamson Prep, from reflecting upon systemic racism, which perpetuates discrimination.

The Hate U Give tackles topics like police brutality, gun violence, and the weaponizing of stereotypes (society's use of stereotypes to justify violence and racism). Thomas writes about these issues with genuine respect for humanity but without shying away from some harsh truths.

Thomas's book title is derived from THUG LIFE, not just the name of the late Tupac Shakur's group and the album they recorded, but an acronym for a philosophy: The letters, Tupac explained, stand for “The Hate U Give Little Infants F—s Everybody,” meaning that allowing our children to be subject to violence and hatred ...

Starr's reflection on the injustice of the grand jury's decision highlights the power of systemic racism. Her only way to fight for Khalil was to testify before the grand jury at great personal risk, and yet not even her best fight and having the truth on her side were strong enough to get Khalil justice.

“The Hate U Give” takes its title and central philosophy from a concept espoused by Tupac Shakur: To the rapper, who had “THUG LIFE” tattooed in capital letters on his torso, that phrase was an acronym for a vicious cycle of societal violence.

Khalil's Hairbrush

The hairbrush represents both the blinding power and senselessness of racism. One-Fifteen alleges that he shot Khalil because he mistook his hairbrush for a gun.

Maverick's work in his rose garden represents his values as a parent and his devotion to Starr, Seven, and Sekani. Maverick mentions that gardens need conversation to grow, and we see conversation as an important part of his parenting style, such as when he talks to Starr about the meaning of Thug Life.

The Hate U Give has the overt message of how racism can cripple communities, and the undisguised theme of social justice, making it both timeless in its relevance and an especially fitting story today, due to the recent Black Lives Matter protests.

Is the hate you give banned in schools? ›

According to the American Library Association, Angie Thomas's book was the fifth most challenged in 2021. It should be read by students (and their parents), not banned from schools. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

The main events in 'The Hate U Give' are when Khalil gets shot by a police officer and Starr gets interviewed by the cops. Another major event is when Starr haves another interview and they ask her if Khalil was a drug dealer and when the students of garden high star protesting because of Khalil's death.

Starr's Hoodie

The hoodie Starr is wearing at Big D's party the night Khalil is shot represents the real life Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. BLM is a resistance movement formed in response to the 2012 shooting of black teenager Trayvon Martin.

Starr feels immense guilt for not being a part of Khalil's life in the months before he died.

Maverick explains the meaning of his children's names: Sekani for joy, Starr for a light in the darkness, and Seven because seven is a sacred, perfect number. Seven may not be perfect, but he's a perfect gift to Maverick.

Starr blames herself for doubting Khalil and thinks public opinion would change if they knew why Khalil sold drugs. DeVante calls himself a thug because he sold drugs and was actually a gang member. He explains that the King Lords made sure his family didn't starve, and DeVante liked being taken care of.

Ms. Ofrah then tells Starr to fire her, so that what she does next are the actions of an activist rather than Starr's attorney.

Starr brings the story back to Khalil and vows that she will not give up on fighting for a better ending. She names several real-life victims of police violence and Emmett Till.

Starr has a negative reaction to Chris taking her hand because she realizes that Chris's whiteness makes him part of the same system as One-Fifteen, which is a society that privileges white lives over black ones.

Although he dies in chapter two, Khalil plays an important symbolic role in The Hate U Give. Specifically, Khalil's murder dramatizes the process of dehumanization and demonization of young black men in the wider news media that allows them to become scapegoats for the violence in their communities.

Did Starr get justice for Khalil? ›

Climax Starr testifies before the grand jury, finally bringing to light the full truth of what happened the night Khalil died. After this testimony, Starr has done all she can do to seek justice for Khalil. Falling action The grand jury decides not to prosecute One-Fifteen.

What her parents tell her is being brave is not being fearless but doing the right thing even when we are frightened. “Brave doesn't mean you're not scarred, Starr, ”she says. “It means you go on even though you're scarred. And you're doing that.”

Black Jesus signifies a radical faith without content; a faith which encourages believers to attentively listen for the personalized divine call echoing within their own unique experiences.

Hailey is described as being manipulative, controlling, racist, and ignorant, being inconsiderate of Maya Yang's and Starr Carter's culture.

DeVante tells Starr that Khalil wasn't a King Lord. He turned down King's offer to join the gang but sold drugs for King mostly to pay off his drug-addicted mother's debt to King.

Starr worries that Maverick will get shot, but he returns unharmed. The gunmen shoot through the front of the house and throw a brick through the front window. Lisa calls Uncle Carlos.

She gives two identities to herself, Garden Heights Starr and Williamson Starr. She is trapped between these two cultures. Furthermore, the novel describes her journey from when she witnesses the unarmed shooting by police that takes her friend's life, Khalil, until the end where she tries to gain justice for Khalil.

The author's portrayal of the shooting in the story and the events following– from media coverage to protests and riots– relates closely to instances of police brutality that have happened in the real world.

Is The Hate U Give appropriate for 8th grade? ›

I would recommend this book to anyone older than 16 because this book includes descriptive violence, profanity, and subjects that a younger audience might not completely understand. The only downfall of the book is the limited view. This book definitely has a bias toward one side (against the police).

This movie isn't recommended for children under 13 years because of its strong themes, frequent and graphic violence, coarse language and distressing content. We recommend parental guidance for children under 15 years.

Another one that's at the top of the list is "The Hate You Give" by Angie Thomas, challenged for profanity and violence and was accused of promoting an anti-police agenda. Interpretation does come into play in some of these banned books, as some people might see something different than others.

The Hate U Give juggles several conflicts in Starr's life—the conflict inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, of course, with witnessing Khalil's murder, but also her half-brother and friend living with an abusive father—the neighborhood's most dangerous gang leader, a friend who gets into a dangerous situation, ...

This prompts Starr to ask Khalil whether he's dealing drugs. Khalil tells her to mind her own business. He insists he needs more money than a minimum wage job because his grandmother lost her job after cancer treatments caused her to miss work.

Maverick decided to quit after Starr's birth because he realized being a King Lord was not worth dying for. When the police arrested King and Maverick for weapons possession, Maverick took the charge for King.

Starr thinks the real reason her father and uncle fight is because of Maverick's insecurity and guilt about not being there for part of his children's lives: Carlos took care of Starr, Seven, and Lisa while Maverick was in prison for three years, and is a surrogate father to Starr.

Seven explodes with hurt and rage, telling Iesha he is so ashamed of her that he has never even told his Williamson friends that Lisa is not his real mother. He confronts her about never showing up to things, putting him out of the house, and for always choosing King over her son—even when King hits her.

Starr feels like she can be herself with Chris, rather than “Williamson Starr.” When Chris grabs her hand, however, she flashes back to Khalil's shooting, unable to separate Chris's whiteness from One-Fifteen's. She recoils. Starr and Chris bond over their shared love of certain elements of black culture.

Her father has told her to keep her hands where the police officer can see them and to do exactly what the police officer wants. However, Khalil seems less frightened and he argues with the police officer. Starr memorizes the police officer's badge number – one-fifteen.

What two talks did Starr's parents have with her? ›

Starr recalls: “When I was twelve, my parents had two talks with me. One was the usual birds and bees. . . . The other talk was about what to do if a cop stopped me.”

Studying shoes in The Hate U Give encourages a reading that puts race relations at the fore- front of the novel. Shoes come to represent the tightrope that Starr walks to maintain her two identities.

Starr's name carries the thematic weight of the many meanings of the word “star,” which emphasizes her potential for leadership in her community. Maverick states that he chose Starr's name because she was a light in a dark time for him.

In the film Starr and Khalil kiss on the night of his death, in the book there's sexual tension but they don't kiss.

The Hate U Give, though some of its ideas are applicable to as young as intermediate/middle school, is appropriate and applicable for 9-12th grade readers. The book deals with the big ideas of race relations, law enforcement, breaking stereotypes, and the Black Lives Matter movement.

THE HATE U GIVE also deals with friendships in the face of subtle racial tensions, the struggle to keep family united in the face of differing views, and what it really means to pursue a better life for yourself and the ones you love.

According to the American Library Association, Angie Thomas's book was the fifth most challenged in 2021. It should be read by students (and their parents), not banned from schools. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

The riots reflect Tupac's definition of Thug Life, as people's anger over racist violence sometimes leads them to destroy even their own community. Maverick guarding his store then foreshadows its destruction later in the novel.

“It's dope to be black until it's hard to be black.” “You're making us out to be monsters.” “At an early age I learned that people make mistakes, and you have to decide if their mistakes are bigger than your love for them.” “The bullhorn is as heavy as a gun.

Because Starr feels torn between her two worlds—the poverty and violence of Garden Heights and the wealth and respectability of Williamson Prep—she is unsure how to speak about Khalil's death, fearing the story will affect how her white friends and boyfriend, Chris, view her.