The context of How to Save a Life is similar to Starr’s situation as they both identify the pain and regret that comes with losing a friend. Starr most likely felt the same shock as Will Smith had while she experienced the difference between social classes in terms of school and district. As mentioned in the song, Will Smith grew up in a rough neighborhood but eventually got moved to Bel-Air, which is the complete opposite. A main reason behind why she likes this song so much is possibly because she can relate to the main character in terms of misplacement. Shown through that fact that Starr’s boyfriend, Chris, used this song to cheer her up, it appears that she takes a special liking in the song. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air by Will Smith From witnessing her friend get shot to feeling neither one thing or another, here are a few songs that I think Starr can connect with,ġ. In the beginning of The Hate You Give, Angie Thomas sets a scene where Starr, the main character, undergoes multiple hardships that shape her life. My school is somewhat cliquey since people prefer to spend time and hangout with their immediate friend group, which mainly consists of people who have common interests. How would you describe the environment at your school? Is it inclusive? Clique-y? What do friend groups have in common (sports teams, common interests, ethnicity, etc)? What would make it hard for someone to find their place?.Personally, I have never seen any issues with law enforcement in front of me. What is the relationship between your community and law enforcement? The government?įortunately, Hong Kong is one of the safest cities in the world, and especially living in Repulse Bay, I rarely hear a cop car or ambulance siren.I think a downside to growing up in an international area of Hong Kong is when interacting with locals here, I can’t exactly consider myself to be truly from Hong Kong as they see me to be westernized. Do you ever feel conflicted about your identity? For example, have others ever seen you differently than you see yourself?.Normally while talking to teachers, parents, and elders I tend to be more formal but while having conversations with friends, I use more slang. What languages do you speak? What different registers do you use when talking to teachers, parents, elders, or friend groups?.I feel like I am part of a unique group of people in Hong Kong who were exposed to multiple cultures as we grew up in an international area. What groups do you feel a part of? Why?.The impacts of media in this case was large as people were outraged that the police officers responsible were not indicted and associated this incident with racial profiling. In fact, they went on to question his girlfriend, Tasha Thomas with agression, threatening her with jail time, accusing her of being under the influence, and implying that she was lying, while she was still grappling with the fact that her boyfriend was shot. Surprisingly, even after the murder of John Crawford III, the police did not stop there. However, regardless of the fact that the police had fired without any verbal warnings, the judge still ruled the officers to be not guilty and be let off without any charges. There, he was holding a toy BB gun when he was shot and killed, as the police believed the gun to be a real firearm.
On August 5, 2014, 22-year-old Crawford was in a Beavercreek, Ohio Walmart. The shooting of John Crawford III was one that contributed to a lot of the Black Lives Matter movement. Similarly, when Starr’s father is thrown onto the floor and handcuffed, Starr again feels afraid about the outcome of the situation. Most notably, when Starr is with her family inside their card and is stopped at a roadblock, she’s afraid of the possibility the police will use their guns. Lastly, Starr is constantly on guard and sees danger everywhere. There are times where Starr feels that she is at fault for Khalil’s death. Starr frequently blames herself for the shooting. Her anger took root right after the shooting, and she still sometimes shows it. One emotion that stands out is her anger. In addition to re-experiencing the event, she experiences different emotions.
Whenever she replays the event, she tries to think of ways she could’ve responded differently. This can be seen through the numerous times when she replays the image of Khalil getting shot. She frequently re-experiences the trauma. On the road to recovery, she encounters many hurdles. She slowly begins to cope with the traumatic event. Right after the shooting, she struggles to comprehend the loss of Khalil. Starr’s character develops significantly throughout the book. Starr, who’s been through so much, wants no part of the school’s protest even though the protest is in the name of Khalil. This quote highlights a prevalent theme occurring in the middle chapters of THUG: the constant change of emotions.
“Can you continue with the lesson, sir?” I ask.