The Hate U Give - Provides a Powerful Understanding of Racial Divides & Injustices

The film "The Hate U Give" is based on the young adult novel by Angie Thomas.  This powerful & racially charged film addresses pervasive battles along color lines & economic strata.  The central character Starr Carter (in a star turning performance by Amanda Stenberg) is a black h.s. student.  Her parents have enrolled her & her older 1/2 brother in a prestigious school outside their community to provide the best opportunities for their futures.  Starr is aware of the dichotomy of living in two separate (but far from equal) worlds.  The disparities are glaringly apparent. This sets Starr apart from immersing fully in either world.  A fatal encounter leads to epiphanies of how tenuous safety is for herself & people of color and how vicarious empathy is in the world of white privilege. Director George Tilman, Jr., covers many serious topics that continue to plague our nation & perpetuate injustice along color lines.  The film queries the lack of accountability for the mass shootings of unarmed black men by white officers who mostly aren't indicted. The emotional potency felt is from the perspectives of both black & white teens.  Starr's uncle is an officer.  He gives Starr an honest & eye opening account of the likelihood race may elicit different responses from him. He also explains what's going through officers' minds when faced with split second harrowing choices.  Social appropriation by whites of black culture is rampant and viewed as foolish & hypocritical by Starr.  Of more consequence is Starr's dismay at her friend's allegiance to the white officer & the failure in his being indicted following her courageous testimony to a Grand Jury. Starr's family is nurtured by two hard working, loving parents (an astounding Lisa Carter & Russell Hornsby).  They instill essential values & life lessons for their children.  Starr's dad adjusts his bigotry when discovering her boyfriend is white. The film begins with "the talk" by Starr's father to all 3 siblings.  "The talk"about deescalating a confrontation with police officers. "Hands spread on the dashboard where they can be seen at all times and do exactly as instructed and respond respectfully."  This scenario is played out shortly thereafter when Starr & her friend Khalil are pulled over by a white officer after fleeing a party in their hood after shots were fired.  Despite Starr's urgent plea for Khalil to co-operate fully his actions are construed as a threat.  He's fatally shot as Starr is handcuffed, agonized alongside him.  "The Hate U Give" provides a clarion voice for discussing hard issues of persistent barriers in our complicated world with the hope for healing, dignity and justice. "I believe that everything you do bad comes back to you." "I want to grow.  I want to be better.  You grow.  We're made to grow.  You either evolve or you disappear."  (Tupac)