As the country continues to witness the brutality of the security forces against members of the minority races, several media objects have emerged to express the social dissatisfaction with this kind of discrimination in modern times. George Tillman Jr’s 2018 film The Hate U Give is one of the several modern films that increasingly focus on presenting powerful messages of race, identity, and gender in American social life (Tillman Jr., 2018). Nevertheless, the film transcends the fundamental issue of discrimination. It exposes another layer that examines the divisions within the minority communities and the position of women in such settings.
Focusing on the Black community, The Hate U Give portrays diversity within the American minority groups. The director presents characters like Starr and Amandla as black people but with diverse physical characteristics (Tillman Jr., 2018). Black characters are presented in multiple appearances, such as wearing different hairstyles and textures, facial appearances, skin color, and coifs. Nevertheless, society considers them “blacks” and places them in the same group that is an easy target of police brutality.
The theme of police brutality against society generally considered black is expressed without shying away from reality. For example, during a conversation with Carlos, a white police officer, Starr asks him how to deal with white and black suspects of crime in a public place (Tillman Jr., 2018). Carlos answers that he would use force, including shooting, to deal with the black man but would warn the white man instead of rushing to use force against him. Yet, Starr’s question places both hypothetical men in the same situation and with similar characteristics apart from skin color (Tillman Jr., 2018). Noteworthy, it is clear that Carlos, who is Starr’s uncle, is open enough to provide the viewer with insights into the deep-seated racism within the police force in the country.
In addition to the meanings and messages about race, the film The Hate U Give presents the theme of gender differences and positions within the community. Specifically, the film exposes stereotypes about black women, which continue to persist in the country (Silverman & Rader, 2018). For example, Lesha plays a conventional role as a “welfare queen” who is ready to put her white husband before her son Seven from a previous relationship. The lack of economic opportunities in the minority community drives men to crime and the drug business. Still, women are left to grasp the consequences as the police brutalize men. Women like Lisa and Lesha have no option but to act as “welfare queens” or depend on their white suitors who have the opportunity to improve their lives.
Within the black communities, there is an additional layer of division beyond racism. Some members are more acceptable to the community than others, owing to their skin color and opportunities in life. For example, Starr is both comfortable within her society and acceptable in a predominantly white school because she is “whiter,” given that she is multiracial (Tillman Jr., 2018). Similarly, gangs and groups that deal with drugs within the black community efficiently target and reject the more white people like Starr and not the “more black” members like her half-brother Seven.
In conclusion, The Hate U Give exposes the social injustices and divisions that deeply exist in American society in the modern world. Non-white groups are placed within specific communities where opportunities for economic and social development are limited. In addition, police early target and brutalize members of the minority community purely based on stereotypic views and not evidence. The film also exposes the causes of divisions within the minority groups themselves, which further affects men and women based on their appearances and the limited opportunities in life.
References
Silverman, J., & Rader, D. (2018). The world is a text: Writing about visual and popular culture. Broadview Press.
Tillman Jr., G. (2018). The hate u give [Film]. 20th Century Studios.