The Power of ‘The Hate U Give’
Get your tissues ready!
Honestly, I wasn’t ready for this film. I hadn’t heard of The Hate U Give until friend of the pod, LeTesha Wheeler, told us that we should review it. Because we trust and value her insight and perspective, we, of course, reviewed it. And what a ride this film is.
The Hate U Give follows the story of Starr, a teenage girl who witnesses the murder of her childhood friend at the hands of a white cop. But the film is about so much more than that! In a little over two hours, they audaciously cover topics like code-switching, police violence, systemic racism, interracial relationships, peaceful protests, and more. While there are overt moments of racism, the film also exposes us to the more subtle injustices people of color have to face daily.
This is an incredibly ambitious story that was executed very well. The characters are well-rounded and beautifully acted. The story is constructed with such care about topics that affect the lives of millions of people every day. I was particularly blown away by Amandla Stenberg’s performance as Starr. She embodies that character, bringing vulnerability and honesty to her performance — I was captivated by her.
Given the current state of our world today, I think The Hate U Give should be required viewing for all humans. As a white person, I will never know…
