65 pages • 2 hours read
Angie ThomasThe Hate U Give
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2017A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Tupac Shakur’s THUG LIFE
Tupac Shakur’s THUG LIFE saying—which became the basis for his hip-hop group name and his famous stomach tattoo—is a major recurring symbol in the book and the source of the novel’s title as well. THUG LIFE is an acronym that stands for “The Hate U Give Little Infants Fucks Everybody” (17). At key points in the novel, Starr discusses the meaning behind THUG LIFE, first with Khalil and then with Mav. In her room in their new house, she prominently displays a poster of Tupac.
The idea behind Tupac’s THUG LIFE is the cyclical nature of hatred and the damage done by systems in which hatred is ingrained. Social systems are designed to favor some groups over others, often along racial lines. As a result, the privileged groups hate and fear the disenfranchised groups.
This plays out clearly in the book. The ingrained hatred that leads Officer 115 to shoot Khalil exacerbates the hatred and mistrust that the Garden Heights community feels for the police. This leads to protests and riots that the police, informed by hatred, respond to with violence. This violence begets more violence, and the cycle continues.
Starr attempts to break this cycle by speaking out and telling the side of the story that is not often told. Telling this story encourages both sides to examine their preconceptions and biases. In turn, this leads to understanding, which is the only way to fight back against the cycle of hate.
The Hairbrush
The hairbrush that Khalil had in his car at the time of his murder is transformed into a symbol of protest by the Just Us for Justice activists and the Garden Heights community in general. After the shooting, Officer 115 claims that he thought he saw Khalil reach for a gun in his car door. The truth is that what he claims looked like a gun was the hairbrush that Khalil used to brush his fade. Although Officer 115’s explanation is more or less accepted as rational by the media, the white community, and, seemingly, by the grand jury, it is seen as absurd by the Black community.
For this reason, April Ofrah and the rest of the protestors at the end of the book all hold hairbrushes. They chant “a hairbrush is not a gun” over and over (407). They use the hairbrush to symbolize the injustice of Khalil’s death. Officer 115 saw the brush handle in the door, but it was only because Khalil was Black that he assumed it was a gun and not anything else. By pointing out the fact that a police officer immediately assumed the object was a gun, the protesters show that racist ideas and assumptions are incredibly ingrained in law enforcement and American society in general.
Sneakers
Sneakers are a recurring symbol in the book, largely due to the fact that Starr is a self-proclaimed sneakerhead. Her shoes are important to her, and she goes out of her way to find limited-edition and otherwise special shoes. She also keeps them in pristine condition and even cleans pairs for other people.
For Starr, her sneakers are one of the main ways she expresses her individuality. At Williamson Prep, she has to wear a uniform, but “I can make sure my sneakers are always dope and my backpack matches them” (71). There is much in her life that she cannot control, so she takes extra care in her choice of footwear.
She also notices other people’s sneakers, especially people with whom she feels a connection. When she reconnects with Khalil at the start of the book, she notes his Jordans, of which she has a similar pair. She also points out that she and Chris frequently match footwear, showing that their connection is deep.
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By Angie Thomas
