What are the themes of The Hate U Give?

Themes in The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas include racism, bravery, and coming to terms with the past.

The first major theme is racism. Starr attends a school with mostly white, upper-class students and then goes home to Garden Heights, where people are more likely to be black and have less money. Garden Heights is plagued by drugs and gang activity -- but it's also a place where people raise families and live their lives. The disconnect between Starr's life at school and her life at home is drawn on racial lines and is evident in the way she's unwilling to share the truth of her home life with her boyfriend and friends at school. She also won't bring people from her two worlds together.

When Starr and her friend Khalil are pulled over, Khalil is shot and killed. He was unarmed, but the police officer claims to have mistaken a hairbrush for a weapon. The controversy surrounding his death makes the subtle racism of the people in her life more overt. Some people think he deserved it because he sold drugs, for example.

There are riots in Garden Heights. The police department decides not to press charges. The case becomes national news and Starr eventually decides she has to speak out. As Thomas says in an interview with NPR, "With Starr, she does find her voice through a certain form of activism, but that's because of the situation she was in." Starr has to learn to speak her truth through a difficult, racially charged situation that she didn't choose to be in.

Racism rears its head throughout the novel for Starr. She's seen as the cool girl at school automatically because of her skin color. White students plan a protest just to get out of class; Chris and Starr don't attend. All day, students come to Starr to justify their participation or lack thereof -- because to them, she represents all black people. One of her friends, Hailey, unfollows her on social media because Starr shares posts related to black issues in America. Starr has to code-switch between Garden Heights Starr and Williamson Starr to fit in.

Racism is also evident in the way the communities in the novel function. For example, the police and fire department don't show up to the burning building at the end until the people trapped inside are safe. They're in a stand-off with the head of the local gang. Starr thinks, "Of course, that’s when the cops and the fire truck decide to show up. Of course. Because that’s how it works in Garden Heights." The community is mistreated by officials like police officers because of their skin color. People are aware that the narrative would play much differently if Khalil had been white.

Another theme is bravery. Both Starr and DeVante have to overcome fear to do what they feel is right. For Starr, it's about being unwilling to be a silent witness. She knows that she will be subject to national attention and criticism if she comes forward as the person who saw Khalil die. Still, she ultimately decides that it needs to be done. She steps up, gives an interview to tell her side of the story, and attends protests against the police. Even though the officer who shot Khalil isn't even brought to trial, she still overcomes her fear of speaking up and resolves to continue doing so.

DeVante is a member of the King Lords at the beginning of the novel. His brother was killed by a rival gang and King, his gang leader, expects him to take care of the situation. He doesn't want to. Though he struggles to turn away from the gang, DeVante ultimately decides that he has to. When King and his followers are arrested for arson, DeVante speaks to the police and offers information to keep them in prison for a long time. He's able to overcome his fear of King and possible retaliation to step back from the gang and help his neighborhood be rid of the King Lords.

Coming to terms with the past is another theme of the novel. Starr isn't comfortable introducing Kenya to her school friends or telling her boyfriend about where she grew up in the projects. By the end of the book, she's accepted her life in Garden Heights and her family. She introduces Chris to her brother, her parents, and DeVante, letting him become a part of her real life. Through many trials, Starr is able to accept her past and work toward becoming a person who is complete.