This is not to say that Amandla Stenberg didn’t do a good job, but I do not think it was fair to cast a light-skinned girl in place of the dark-skinned main character that Starr was supposed to be. This plays directly into the issue of colorism in today’s Hollywood and society in general. Yet, in the film, Starr is light-skinned. In the book (and on the cover), Starr is portrayed as dark-skinned.
Perhaps my biggest issue with this film was decided before we saw a single scene. While incredibly powerful, this film was not without its drawbacks. However, in her struggle, Starr also serves as a testament that black is beautiful and that we don’t ever have to try to change ourselves to appeal to anyone.
If anyone has ever been told that they “speak like a white person” (because I have), that comes from the nonsense stereotype that only white people know how to speak proper English. So, as black people, we often attempt to assimilate, putting on a mask that makes us more “formidable” to our white counterparts. The fear of being “too black” comes from the idea that to be black is to be inferior. This struggle to find herself is something that is common among black teenagers. However, when she attends her private school in an affluent white suburb, she is “Starr Version Two.” This Starr is reserved, picking her language carefully to avoid sounding “ghetto.” This side of her is more likely to hold her tongue than to speak up for herself, in an effort not to sound “ratchet” or play to the trope that all black girls are loud and belligerent. When she is at home, she is fly, vibrant and comfortable. Throughout, we are constantly reminded of the looming peril that people of color face every day.Īnother very important plot point in the film is Starr’s identity search. The fear that envelops the black community when it comes to police is the centerpiece for the entire film. I connected to this scene immediately as someone who has had that same talk with my parents. It starts with “the talk,” a conversation black and brown families have had for generations: the do’s and don’ts when dealing with police. This act serves as the catalyst for the rest of the film.įrom the very first scene, I was instantly put on edge. When they are stopped by police, Khalil is asked to exit the vehicle, and he is then shot by the officer. It tells the story of Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg), who is caught in the middle of a harrowing police brutality case after leaving a party with her childhood friend, Khalil (Algee Smith). Released on October 19th, this film provoked feelings and emotions that I know a lot of black people (myself included) have been harboring. The much-anticipated adaptation of Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give has finally arrived.