1

Chapter One

Introduction

Angie Thomas was born, raised, and still resides in Jackson, Mississippi. Her

debut novel The Hate U Give is a New York Times Bestseller. It has received starred

reviews from 8 literary journals, one of the highest amounts received for a young

adult novel and will be published in over 20 countries. Inspired by the Black Lives

Matter movement, Thomas’s searing debut about an ordinary girl in extraordinary

circumstances addresses issues of racism and police violence with intelligence,

heart, and unflinching honesty.

The Hate U Give is a novel about Starr Carter, a sixteen-year-old black girl

who lived in the poor neighbourhood, Garden Heights. Most people who lived there

were black people. On the other hand, Starr and her brother went to school in

Williamson Prep, a posh private high school where most of the students were white.

She kept living in two different surroundings and tried to adapt herself. She even had

a white boyfriend.

Starr once went to a party and met her childhood friend, Khalil. A fighting

happened in the party and Khalil asked Starr to go out. However, on their way to go

home, the car was stopped by a white police officer. The officer asked for Khalil’s

license, but then they had a debate. Khalil made a sudden move and that made him

being shot and murdered in front of Starr. Starr shocked. This situation made Star

remembered when her friend, Natasha was also shot and died a few years ago.

Khalil’s death soon became a national headline. Many people called him a thug like

a drug dealer or a gangbanger. She was the only one who could tell the truth of the

accident. However, all of her family protected Starr and did not let anyone know that
2

she was the witness. They knew that it could endanger their lives because they might

get death threats and be targeted by cops. Such situation had happened for many

times and they could imagine what would happen. Starr got dilemma, and she was

too afraid to speak.

Starr’s Uncle, Carlos convinced her that she would help Khalil to get justice if

she came to the investigation. Starr agreed, and she answered questions by detectives

about the case, accompanied by her mother. However, Starr realized that the

investigation became bullshit since the detectives did justifying towards Khalil all

the time. After the investigation, an advocate and attorney, April Ofrah from Just Us

for Justice offered help to make sure Starr’s voice was heard without being

exploited. Starr and her mother denied as they wanted to have peace.

On the news, Starr saw that the police chief admitted that there was no reason

to arrest the officer. Starr blamed herself because she did not tell all of things of the

incident, such as that the cop pointed out the gun towards her. On the other side,

friends of Starr also talked about the case thoroughly. They called Khalil as a drug

dealer, without knowing that Starr was connected to.

Once, the district attorney called and asked Starr to talk with them. Starr’s

parents said she could reject it but Starr was willing to do it. It turned out that the

case was turned over to the DA, and they were preparing to take the case to a grand

jury. Before meeting the DA, Starr discussed with Ms. Ofrah. Ms. Ofrah explained

that Starr would testify to the grand jury, then the grand jury would decide whether

charges should be brought against the officer. While waiting for the DA meeting,

Starr found out that the father of the officer did an interview on TV. She was

extremely shocked because most of the statements were not true.

After that, Ms. Ofrah arranged an interview with a national news program called

Friday Night News Special, a week before Starr testified the grand jury. In there,

Starr’s face was not being shown to keep her peace and safety. Starr told everything

about the case on the interview, including the fact that she hid from her parents, that

the cop pointed his gun to her. The interview hit some people who did not like it.

Some cop harassed Starr’s family in the Garden Heights. Moreover, the night before

testifying to the grand jury, when all of Starr’s family were in the house, they got

couples of gunshots. This attack broke the house through the front window. This

situation made Starr decided not to go to the grand jury. However, her father

reminded her about point one of the Ten-Point Program that they wanted freedom.

The father supported Starr that her voice was significant to get justice.

The day came. Starr went to the courthouse. The media frenzy fulfil the air and

Starr needed to go in through back door to avoid the cameras. In the room, about

twenty grand jurors sat. Then the night of the shooting was being discussed in detail

for three hours. The decision was announced seven weeks after the testifying. At the

time, Starr’s family moved to a new house to get peace and stay away from riots.

The decision hit them all because the grand jury decided not to indict Officer Brian.

On the streets, Starr saw some teenagers shouted “Justice for Khalil!”. She also

wanted to do protest. Starr joined the crowd at Magnolia Avenue and yelled

together. The protest became a riot. The police shot and pop after pop fill the air,

along with smoke and shattered glass. Then they moved to the east side, yet the

police blocked off many routes. In a four-way intersection, people stood around and

shouted that a hairbrush was not a gun. Ms. Ofrah was also there. Starr wanted to do

something, so that Ms. Ofrah asked her to fire her as the attorney.
4

Hence, Ms. Ofrah was no longer represent Starr. On top of the car, Starr began

to introduce herself as the witness. She invited the crowd to fight against injustice.

Then, the cops threw a can of tear gas. It explodes and the crowd ran. Ms. Ofrah told

Starr to go to the bus. Starr and her friends went to the store, hoped that they would

be safe there.

Nevertheless, someone burn the store. They all were panicked. The smoke

filled their lungs. They intended to go out through the back door but it was locked.

They screamed for help and finally they could go out safely. In the end, the decision

of the grand jury was not changed. However, Starr realized that all of the struggle of

her and people around her was more than just about Khalil, the cop, or the case. It

was about all people, including other victims who also killed. She would not stop

and believe that there would be a change one day. She just needed to be ready to

fight because it was her turn. She would never forget and never be quiet.

Racism is the belief that groups of humans possess different behavioural

patterns according to physical appearance and can be divided based on

the superiority of one race over another. It may also mean prejudice, discrimination

or antagonism directed against other people because they are of a different

race. Modern variants of racism are often based in social perceptions of biological

differences between peoples. These views can take the form of social actions,

practices or beliefs, political system in which different races are ranked as inherently

superior or inferior to each other, based on presumed shared inheritable traits,

abilities, or qualities.

In the text Thomas explain about racism, which is in the veins of the American

from the dawn of America. America is the called The New Land by the British who
5

are expelled from their home land by the protestants. The British also bring people

from African countries as slaves and treated them harshly.

The project is just a study about the institutional racism faced by the Afro-

Americans in America and the Starr Carter’s strong decisions against institutional

racism in Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give. This thesis tries to analyse a novel

written by Angie Thomas entitled The Hate U Give and focuses on the main

character named Starr Carter. The purpose of this thesis is to know institutional

racism that occurs in the novel and the way Starr has to deal with it. There are five

parts of institutional racism portrayed in this novel, those are ignorance towards

Black Panthers‟ Ten-Point Program, the shooting in license checking, physical

punishment in police patrol, justifying White officer in detective investigation, and

injustice in grand jury announcement. Furthermore, Starr's brave decisions against

institutional racism are telling the truth in a TV interview and joining the protest

chant. The conclusions are institutional racism that has been done by police

institution toward Afro American people is inhumane and this experience makes

Starr decides to keep fighting to get justice for Afro Americans in America.

The institutional racism is the racist activity of the majority who works in the

institution that has a negative to the minority as a civilian. Institutional racism is

practiced on its rule and practice. Institutional racism defines as the custom of an

institute that unintentionally racist because of the ignorance about how the decision

makes impacts on the people of African generation. It can be realized in structural

ways that have a bad effect on people causes by their race or customs (Brennan 65).

The way institution ignores the bad effect as a result of the racist action is presented

in institutional racism. Institutional racism continues because of the mistake of the

institute overtly and effectively to identify and forward its presence and sources by
6

rule, pattern, and guidance. It involves action of the dominant group that has broaden

the different level positions toward the subordinate group (Miles & Brown 70). The

pattern of institutional racism is Whites as the dominant group that have higher-level

positions than Blacks as the subordinate group. “Institutional racism can work with

or without the responsiveness of principal group members, or their deputies, and

does not need hateful commit” (Moore 182).

Whites as member of institution are influenced by institutional racism to do

negative action toward Blacks. Nonetheless, institutional racism is a type of racism

that includes the universal action of anti-Black manners and performs. “A

perspective of racial group position obtains that White people are superior if

compare with Black people. It is a kind of racist perspective that pervades society,

secretly or openly” (Rattansi 132). In institutional racism, Whites feel superior and

they dislike Black manners.

However, Institutional racism involves the cooperative failure of an institution

to offer a proper service to persons because of the colour, culture, or racial origin. “It

often notices in practices, manners, and habits that extend to discrimination by

unknowing prejudice, unawareness, inattention and racist stereotypes that do not

give benefit to minority racial group” (Gillborn 16). In relation to racist stereotypes,

“institutional racism is unsuspected, an exception, misunderstand of an invention by

White people that Black people perceive to be a matter” (Grieve and French 14).
7

Chapter Two
Institutional Racism in the Novel The Hate U Give

The story in the novel starts with license checking by White officer towards

Black person that ended tragic. After this kind of racism, the story in the novel

continues with another racism case that still happens following the first case. In this

session, the entire part discusses institutional racism that happens to Starr in the

novel.

Institutional racism in this novel is divided into five parts, those are ignorance

toward Black Panthers‟ Ten-Point Program, the shooting in license checking,

physical punishment in police patrol, justifying White police in detective

investigation, and injustice in grand jury announcement. Ignorance toward Black

Panthers’ Ten-Point Program Blacks are often treated racist by police institution.

There is Black Panthers‟ Ten-Point Program as the rule of institutional racism. It

used to protect Blacks‟ civil rights that ignored by Whites and it becomes the base

of Blacks in facing racism in society.

Black people, minorities, poor people. Everybody at the bottom in

society. The oppressed. We’re the ones who get the short end of the

stick, but we’re the ones they fear the most. That’s why the government

targeted the Black Panther or the Panthers is a nickname for Black who

educated the other Blacks as oppressed people in society. (Thomas 50)

Government as an institution in the state has done racist act by targeted the

Panthers because they were scared if the slave revolts happen again. To prevent it

happen again, the government controls the Panthers by prohibiting their activity.
8

This kind of racist rule and performs make the activity of empowered Blacks is

difficult to do by the Panthers. It is the consequence of being the Panthers. ““We

want freedom,” I say. “We want the power to determine the destiny of our black and

oppressed communities.”” (51)

The Black Panthers‟ Ten-Point Program contains the demand of Blacks in

facing racism. Freedom is mentioned in point one, it shows that the control of

Whites as the dominant group makes Blacks as the subordinate group becomes

oppressed. In institutional racism, Blacks can not determine their destiny, so they

need the power to do that. ““We want an immediate end to police brutality,” I say,

“and the murder of black people, other people of colour, and oppressed people.””

(151)

Point seven of Black Panthers Ten-Point Program is the reaction toward

polices who used their power background in racist action. Polices that mostly Whites

are often do criminality toward Blacks as civilian, for example of their cruelty in

racist action is the murder of Blacks. In this case, the polices are over in using their

power. The murder of Blacks is the criminality as the result of racist action. And this

police brutality must be ended. “And what did Brother Malcolm say is our

objective?” “Complete freedom, justice, and equality,” I say, “by any means

necessary.”” (151)

Brother Malcolm refers to Malcolm X, a Black activist who has an impact on

the policy about equality between Whites and Blacks. The mistake of American

society is that Whites as the dominant group that have higher level position than

Blacks as the subordinate group. This inequality leads to injustice toward Blacks and

they do not have freedom as Whites have. So, Malcolm X makes goal for Blacks to
9

do possible ways in fighting to get equality. “Because the Ten-Point Program didn’t

work for the Panthers. By any means necessary didn’t keep Brother Malcolm from

dying, possibly at the hands of his own people. Intentions always look better on

paper than in reality.” (151)

By structural ways, Ten-Point Program is still ignored by Whites in practice.

Whites’ custom toward Ten Point Program is they keep racist action in the

institution. The impact of this Whites‟ manner toward Blacks as people of African

generation is bad experience based on history that makes Blacks pessimist. It

indicates that the goals on Ten-Point Program are difficult in the realization.

Shooting is one of the examples of institutional racism in the novel.

Institutional racism is done by police institution toward Black people who become

minority in US society. Black people in this case are Starr and Khalil who get bad

treatment when the officer checking the license. “The officer approaches the driver’s

door and taps the window. Khali cranks the handle to roll it down. As if we aren’t

blinded enough, the officer beams his flashlight in our faces. License, registration,

and proof of insurance.” (16)

While checking license, the officer named Officer Cruise does racist acts by

beams his flashlight in Starr’s and Khalil’s face. His action shows anti-Black

behaviour. The flashlight makes them glare. The officer does uncommon thing. In

appropriate treatment, the officer just asks license without beams the flashlight.

What the officer does make Starr and Khalil as civil people become uncomfortable

and disturbed by his action. The officer takes unnatural actions. He says, ““Get out

the car! Hands up, where I can see them.” Khalil gets out with his hands up. One-
10

Fifteen yanks him by his arm and pins him against the back door. I fight to find my

voice. “Hands on the dashboard!” the officer barks at me. “Don’t move!”” (16-17)

Institutional racism was noticed on officer’s manner in this checking license

practice. First, the officer snapped at Khalil and Starr before they ended their talk.

The second, he treats Khalil unreasonably in which he asks Khalil to raise his hand

then the officer yanks Khalil by his arm and pins him against the back door. What

Officer Cruise does is violating the license checking procedure. This officer’s

manner extent to discrimination is because this racist actions are done towards

Khalil and Starr as Black people. It is impossible if the officer does this rude action

when checking the White race. One Fifteen is White officer, he does racist action

because he does not aware that Black people as minority have the same rights as

White people as majority to treat properly in license checking by the officer.

Institutional racism is a misunderstanding of White people that Black people

perceive as matter. The officer or One Fifteen as White person considers Khalil to be

a guilty Black person. The officer dubs Khalil with the call of smart mouth,

assuming that Khalil was just a liar teenager. This misunderstanding of White people

is the main cause of institutional racism against Blacks. The officer is sure he will

find something bad like drug or sharp tool or gun on Khalil. Therefore, he pats

Khalil down two more times to prove his guess. But he finds nothing and forbid

Khalil and Starr to go. Officer Cruise's suspicion was increasingly visible when he

decides return to his patrol car for retrieve his detector. “Pow! One. Khalil’s body

jerks. Blood splatters from his back. He holds on to the door to keep himself upright.

Pow! Two. Khalil gasps. Pow! Three. Khalil looks at me, stunned. He falls to the

ground.” (17)
11

The officer shoots Khalil without any suspicion made by Khalil. Khalil just

does a sudden move that is open the driver's door but the officer immediately shoot

him. This is because institutional racism includes universal action of anti-Black

manners and performances. What Khalil did must be hated by the White officer.

Without knowing what Khalil actually did, the police immediately shoots Khalil

without think deeply. Even before Khalil finish his talk, the police shoots him

brutally. The officer does not give Khalil the chance to defend himself. Starr also

cannot do something because the shooting that was done suddenly, Starr only can

see Khalil die slowly after the officer shoots him three times.

The officer performs racist actions that remain inhumane, unfair, and destroys

the rules of essential principles. His act that points the gun to Starr spontaneously

after shooting Khalil breaks the rule of essential principles as human being. The

officer points a gun as he will shoot Starr like he does to Khalil. The officer is unfair

when points the gun to Starr because Starr does not threaten him, instead the officer

makes Starr frightened. The officer also destroys the rule of essential principle as

human being. By pointing his gun to Starr, he threatened Starr without care about

Starr who still shocked by the death of his friend, Khalil. Here, Starr is powerless to

resist the officer who has killed Khalil. Starr also cannot defend herself. “The cops

rummage through Khalil’s car. I try to tell them to stop. . . But the words never come

out. One-Fifteen sits on the sidewalk with his face buried in his hands. Other officers

pat his shoulder… They finally put a sheet over Khalil.” (19)

The polices come there after shooting incident but they focus to check Khalil's

car and evidence things for investigate the case. They ignore Khalil’s corpse which

they must care first. This institutional racism involves the cooperative failure of

police institution to offer a proper service to Khalil because he is Black. This

institutional racism called cooperative failure because it involves several officers

who do racist acts together. One of the officers closed Khalil's corpse a long time

after he shows his care to One Fifteen, the shooter.

The next example of institutional racism in the novel is physical punishment in

police patrol. In this case, institutional racism is done by two officers while patrol in

Black neighbourhood. These two police officers act racist to Starr’s father who is

Black. “A familiar whoop-whoop sound alarms us. The patrol car with flashing

lights cruises down the street. It stops next to Daddy and Mr. Lewis. Two officers

get out. Their hands linger too close to the guns at their waists. ““We got a problem

here?” the Black one asks, looing squarely at Daddy “No, sir, officer,” Daddy says.

“You sure about that?” the younger White one asks. “It didn’t seem that way to us.””

(92)

White officer as part of the dominant group acts racist toward Starr’s father

who is Black person as part of subordinate group. Black officer looks directly at

Starr's father, and the White officer denies Starr's father's statement. White officer

does not believe what Starr's father said that there are no problems between him and

his White neighbour, Mr. Lewis. White officer also stressed that his partner Black

officers have the same opinion. This is because these two officers are in the same

institution, and have the same principle of treat White as superior and discriminate

against the Black person. Black cop ignores the reality that he should defend Starr’s

father who is in the same race with him. Police institutions dominated by White

officers, so Black officers must follow the majority rule.

Black officer accuses that Starr's father harassed Mr. Lewis, although Mr.

Lewis says that he and Starr’s father are only do usual talk. Black officer follows
13

what White officer does in discriminating Starr’s father. The Black officer acts

discriminately by looking at Starr’s father with suspicion. This institutional racism

involves actions of officers that broaden the different level position toward the

subordinate group that Whites are upper Blacks. Mr. Lewis as White person get

privilege while Starr's father who is Black is accuse without any evidence. The

officers show their position which is higher than Black by discriminates Starr’s

father. The institutional racism that occurs in this case is to make Whites as the

dominant group that have privileges and free from bad prejudices, while Blacks are

positioned as subordinate group that can be harassed and Whites can act arbitrarily

to them. ““You got some ID on you?” the Black cop asks Daddy. “Sir, I was about

to go back to my store.” “I said do you have some ID on you?”” (92)

Black officer does racist act by cut off Starr’s father’s talk, he does not care

about what Starr’s father will say. Black officer asked Starr’s father to show his ID

by force. This racist way in checking ID has influence Black officer to be intolerant.

Black officer does it based on institutional procedures and ignores the fact that he

has done racist act to his own race. The racist act of the Black officer has prompt

him to be intolerant toward Starr's father. Officers just asked to check ID of Starr's

father, they do not check Mr. Lewis' ID. This action is clearly racist.

Perseverance of this institutional racism depends on the active exploration of

negative manners by the officers. Their exploration is discriminate against Starr's

father who is suspected of making a mistake. It makes Starr’s father feel oppressed

as an effect of negative manner by the officers. Starr’s father is powerless, the only

thing he can does is to obey the officers’ command.

Institutional racism can work with responsiveness of principal group members

or their deputies. When see Maverick Carter on Starr father's ID, the officers

spontaneously signalled that they are deal with the father of witness in Khalil case.

The Black officer immediately discriminates Starr's father by asking him to lie down

with a forced tone. This physical punishment is inhumane because the officers do

not have reason to do this. The officers increasingly show their racist attitude by

discriminates against Starr's father. Institutional racism is done with a response to

the physical victim. ““Now, wait a minute, Officer,” Mr. Lewis says. “Me and him

were just talking.” “Sir, go inside,” the White cop tells him. “But he didn’t do

anything!” Seven says. “Boy, go inside!” the Black cop says.”” (93)

The maintenance of institutional racism is dependent to the main racial group

that maintaining their power background. As work in police institution, these two

officers have power because they are under official institutions in the state. They use

their power background to control society so no one can prevent them from doing

racism. Mr. Lewis as a privileged person and Seven, Starr's brother has defended

that they are not proper to discriminates Starr's father but the officers forbid them

from interfering the officers‟ business. Their power background ignores the race that

prevents them from racist act. Whether Black people who surely not impact them

nor White people who are their same race, it cannot stop the officers to do racist.

“The Black cop keeps his knee on Daddy’s back. . . He pats him down once, twice,

three times. “Larry,” the White cop says. He takes his knee off Daddy’s back and

stands. “Get up,” he says. Slowly, Daddy gets to his feet.” (93)

Institutional racism caused by mistake of the institute overtly and effectively to

forward its presence by pattern. The officers’ mistake is done their racist act overtly

in open place where everyone in that neighbourhood can see. Larry as White officer
15

effectively forward his racist presence by glance at Starr then say his last words for

Starr's father before leave. It indicates that White officer gives a signal to Starr that

he threatened Starr's father because Starr included in Khalil case, a case that involves

both White race and Black race. The pattern in this institutional racism is when the

officers leave, the problem is over and as someone at that Black neighbourhood

says, everything will be fine as before. It indicates that the officers’ presence is

source of Black race’s problems.

Another example of institutional racism in the novel is the justification of the

White police in detective investigation. In this case, institutional racism has been

done by two detectives from police institution. Starr treated racist by two detectives

when the investigation took place. ““One-Fifteen put his bright on. He approached

the window and asked Khalil for his license and registration. “Did Khalil comply?”

Gomez asks. “He asked the officer why he pulled us over first. Then he showed his

license and registration.”” (50)

A significant process of institutional racism is on the control of racial

hierarchy. Detection investigation is a process of Khalil case before the grand jury.

White detectives who work in police institution have control to Starr as a Black

person in this investigation. This racial hierarchy shows that Whites have full control

over the Blacks who become their object. Detectives can trust or doubt Starr’s

statements as a witness in Khalil case. Starr said the fact that occurred before the

shooting and detective Gomez gives a question that doubt Starr's statement. The

detective's attitude looks racist because it indirectly accuses that Khalil are complied

and seem irate when officer checking his license. Detective should ask neutral

questions that do not favour any race. Institutional racism is a measure of the

majority which establishes discrimination towards minority.

Chapter Three

Starr against Institutional Racism

Starr Carter as the main character in the novel The Hate U Give has to deal

with institutional racism. It forces her to make decisions against institutional racism

that happens to her. The analysis below explains some actions that considered her to

be brave in facing injustice over institutional racism. Starr’s actions are telling the

truth in a TV interview and joining the protest chant.

Starr has to face institutional racism, so she makes decision that considers her

to be brave. Tell the truth in a TV interview is her brave decision before the grand

jury. As the witness of Khalil case, Starr has important role to reveal the truth in

front of the public. Starr has a choice to show up this case so everyone, both White

race and Black race can clearly know the truth from her. “Ms. Ofrah arranged for me

to do an interview with one of the national news programs today—exactly a week

before I testify before the grand jury next Monday.” (133)

Duty of Black author is support for their race by literary works such as

providing alternative answers to problems in society that provoke their community.

This TV interview shows Ms. Ofrah’s effort in media and Starr must speak in front

of the public to tell Black assumption and tell the truth. The problem for Starr is

media that controlled by White who sided with Officer Cruise in the Khalil case.

Have an interview with one of the national news is an alternative answer for problem

of media. Angie Thomas as the author of the novel The Hate U Give done her duty,

she shows the important of media to share the news to people and the news will

make an influence in society. It is not easy for Ms. Ofrah to get interview and can

convince the TV station that gives her and Starr the opportunity to talk through her
17

TV station. Angie Thomas as the author points out the need for more effort for

Blacks who are facing cases with White skin, considering they are subordinate

groups who often get racist treatment from Whites.

“Still, he somehow manages to open the limo door and shake our hands

when we get out. “John, the producer. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He

shakes my hand a second time. “And let me guess, you’re Starr.” “Yes,

sir.” “Thank you so much for having the bravery to do this.” (134)

Khalil case becomes national media attention. It makes Starr well known as

the witness in Khalil case. It is not easy for someone who becomes witness to tell the

public about what happen during the shooting. But Starr proves that she could do

this interview to get justice for his best friend, Khalil. Meanwhile, John, as the

producer of TV interview compliments Starr about her bravery. This is how society

works. When in a good environment that supports her, this supports can grow Starr's

confidence that she can certainly deal with this case. John's gesture by shakes Starr’s

hand second time shows his excitement to Starr, the presence of Starr in this

interview is highly expected by the TV. ““He had a big heart,” I say. “I know that

some people call him a thug, but if you knew him, you’d know that wasn’t the case

at all. I’m not saying he was an angel or anything, but he wasn’t a bad person. He

was a . . .” I shrug. “He was a kid.”” (135)

Khalil is Black person and unfortunately, he is a thug. But it is not simply as

the perspective of White that thug is a criminal. Thug is not an angel, and also not a

bad person indeed. Khalil is a kid, human in common. One fact about Khalil that

public must know is that Khalil had a big heart. Starr conveys her Black perspective
18

in terms of humanity. As a kid, Khalil is an ordinary human who has the right to get

justice as a civilian.

“I don’t understand how everyone can make it seem like it’s okay he got

killed if he was a drug dealer and a gangbanger.” A hook straight to the

jaw. “The media?” she asks. “Yes, ma’am. It seems like they always talk

about what he may have said, what he may have done, what he may not

have done. I didn’t know a dead person could be charged in his own

murder, you know?” (136)

Starr knows different perspective in society that White’s perspective is wrong

and explains in a good way. Society is complex, because every person has their own

perspective. Starr reveals the fact about news on media that framing Khalil as drug

dealer and it makes the shooting by the officer is okay. Media also does victim

blaming on Khalil. Starr says her own perspective that this shooting is a crime act,

like a murder. The audiences on TV interview will know this kind of social life from

Black people.

“Has this situation made you fearful of cops?” she eventually asks. “I

don’t know,” I say truthfully. “My uncle’s a cop. I know not all cops are

bad. And they risk their lives, you know? I’m always scared for my

uncle. But I’m tired of them assuming. Especially when it comes to

Black people.” “You wish that more cops wouldn’t make assumptions

about Black people?” she clarifies. “Right. This all happened because

he”—I can’t say his name— “assumed that we were up to no good.

Because we’re Black and because of where we live. We were just two
19

kids, minding our business, you know? His assumption killed Khalil. It

could’ve killed me.” (136)

In human civilization, Blacks have a problem with the assumption of Whites to

them. Starr responses to the problem of Black people caused by police in a good

way. She still believes not all cop are bad. She is brave to share her opinion about

what is wrong in One Fifteen’s mind so it makes the shooting to Khalil happen.

Wisdom of this case are Blacks has rights to live, to be treat equally because Blacks

is common human like White race, and do not judge person by its race.

“If Officer Cruise were sitting here,” Mrs. Carey says, “what would you

say to him?” I blink several times. My mouth waters, but I swallow. No

way I’m gonna myself cry or throw up from thinking about that man. If

he were sitting here, I don’t have enough Black Jesus in me to tell him I

forgive him. Instead, I’d probably punch him. Straight up. But Ms. Ofrah

says this interview is the way I fight. When you fight, you put yourself

out there, not caring who you hurt or if you’ll get hurt. So I throw one

more blow, right at One-Fifteen. “I’d ask him if he wished he shot me

too.” (136-137)

Starr also response problems by giving the reaction of how to face the case but

not forgive the shooter. This is a serious case for Starr but she can control her emotion

well, and ignore that One Fifteen get hurt. Starr is totality in fight to get justice. Starr

surely hates what fifteen does to Khalil, but Starr did not feel fear of him. Star

remembers what her attorney said. Starr obeys her lawyer's recommendation and she

does what Ms. Ofrah recommends to her. Starr is brave to say honestly about what

she wants to say to Officer Cruise. She fights by her voice at this TV interview.
20

“My interview aired yesterday on Diane Carey’s Friday Night News

Special. This morning, John the producer called and said it’s one of the

most-watched interviews in the network’s history A millionaire, who

wishes to remain anonymous, offered to pay my college tuition. John

said the offer was made right after the interview aired. I think it’s Oprah,

but that’s just me because I’ve always imagined she’s my fairy

godmother and one day she’ll come to my house saying, “You get a

car!” The networks already got a bunch of emails in support of me. I

haven’t seen any of them, but I received the best message in a text from

Kenya. Bout time you spoke out. Don’t let this fame go to your head

though. The interview trended online. When I looked this morning,

people were still talking about it. Black Twitter and Tumblr have my

back. Some assholes want me dead (138).

In this cultural context, Starr successes to give impact, it is the first TV

interview that gets a lot attention from people in society. There are positive and

negative reactions as feedback. Positive reactions mostly come from Black people

who support her, meanwhile negative reactions come from some White people who

hate her. Starr also gets compliment from Kenya, her niece that she has done right.

The Saturday news programs discussed the interview too, dissecting my

words like I’m the president or something. This one network is outraged

by my disregard for cops. “I’m not sure how they got that out the

interview. I don’t care. I‟m not apologizing for how I feel. People can

say what they want” (138).

In this case, Starr is not caring for negative reaction from White people. Starr

believes that she has done the right thing for Black people. What Starr said on TV

interview about One Fifteen raises a misunderstanding to White people.

White people are out of context. Starr expresses her displeasure with the police

in a subtle way, while the White people considered what Starr says is disregard for

the officer. The response of White people is contrary to the intent of the actual

message from Starr to One Fifteen.

After grand jury announcement, Starr must facing injustice and it is another

kind of her brave decision. Starr is the only one witness of Khalil case, so she knows

what actually happen at the shooting. This brave decision leads her to join a protest

chant with Black people on her society, make her family proud of her action at the

protest chant, and get new point of view toward injustice in her country. ““I did

everything right, and it didn’t make a fucking difference. I’ve gotten death threats,

cops harassed my family, and somebody shot into my house, all kinds of shit. And

for what? Justice Khalil won’t get?”” (182

In observe fiction, the observer also becomes concern about an actual issue

like racism. More specific issue in this novel is injustice toward Black people. A

cultural context in this racism is Blacks as a minority which is powerless from the

point of view by White people. Whites frequently do not get punishment after they

commit criminalities toward African Americans. Violence toward African

Americans is not processed seriously by law institution. Starr is brave to express her

anger over the injustice that happens in Khalil case. Starr's statement in anger shows

that she has bravery to fight the police for the injustice experienced by Khalil in his

case.
22

“The messed-up part? There are so many more. Yet I think it’ll change

one day. How? I don’t know. When? I definitely don’t know. Why

because there will always be someone ready to fight. Maybe it’s my turn.

Others are fighting too, even in the Garden, where sometimes it feels like

there’s not a lot worth fighting for. People are realizing and shouting and

marching and demanding. They’re not forgetting. I think that’s the most

important part” (207).

The truth of social in this novel is fight to get justice for Black people. What

Starr has been done is not perfect but it is important to remember all cases about

institutional racism, how to deal with it together as the Black community. As

minority Blacks must fight for their rights in deal with institutional racism that often

occur and justice for Blacks must continue to fight for. “Khalil, I’ll never forget. I’ll

never give up. I’ll never be quiet. I promise.” (208)

Starr’s character represents the optimism of a Black person as the subordinate

group who has a bad experience in racism. Although Khalil case ended tragic, she

has promise to keep fighting for Khalil and all Black people to get justice. Starr will

always remember this case in her mind so she will voice her support for Blacks.

Author makes readers understand the case of institutional racism which seen from

the perspective of Black people who become the victim of injustice. Starr represents

as black person who manages to keep fighting for justice as encouragement to

continue to speak up against unfairness.

Chapter Four

Conclusion

In this chapter, there are two points based on the whole analysis in the

previous chapters. First is institutional racism portrayed in the novel and the second

point is Starr’s brave decisions against institutional racism. These two points as a

conclusion is explained below. The first point contains five different types of

institutional racism that happen in the novel. For the first type of institutional racism

is ignorance of Black Panthers' Ten Point-Program. It is the base rule of Blacks to

get justice in law over the cruelty racist act by Whites to them, but institutional

racism still exists.

The second institutional racism that happens in the novel is proof by the

shooting in license checking that done by White police toward Khalil as a Black

person without any exact reason. Third, there is physical punishment in police patrol

toward Starr’s father by forcing him to get on the ground because of the

misunderstanding of two polices. Next, in Detective Investigation Starr tried to

defend Khalil but she is discredited by Detective Gomez who justifying White police

who shoots Khalil. The last is injustice in grand jury announcement that not indict

One Fifteen even there is enough evidence to punish him, and it indicates that the

cruelty of institution becomes a serious matter toward Black. So, there is detective

investigation and grand jury as the law process in Khalil case but this case ended by

injustice toward Black.

The second point is about brave decisions that Starr did against institutional

racism. First, Starr was helped by Ms. Ofrah as her lawyer to get a TV interview so

she could tell the truth to the public about Black perspective in Khalil case. Starr in
24

TV interview aimed to reveal the facts about what actually Officer Cruise did when

the shooting happened to Khalil and let the public know the truth. Starr was brave to

appear in front of the public because she got support from her family and her

neighbours and it made her more confident to show up in front of the public for the

first time. Second, Starr joined a protest chant as action toward injustice after grand

jury announcement. In this protest chant, Black people in the society showed how

Black power works to face the injustice of Khalil case together. Starr was brave to

participate in protest chant by speaking loudly in the crowded, and she also did

dangerous things by throwing a tear gas can to polices. At the end of the story, Starr

could accept the reality that Khalil case ended tragic and unfair. But she would never

stop to get justice for Black people.

Works Cited

1. Brennan, Fernne. Race Right Deprecation :Institutional Racism and Law. New York:
Routledge, 2017.Print.
2. Gillborn, Richard. Mastering English literature. London: Macmillan Press, 2014.
Print.
3. Miles, Robert. Theories of Race and Racism. London: Routledge , 2003.Print.
4. Moore, John H. Encyclopaedia of Race and Racism: Volume2 .New York:
Macmillan, 2008. Print.
5. Rattansi ,Ali. Racism: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University
Press, 2007. Print.
6. Rizky, Christian. “The Struggle of African Americans Against Racial Discrimination
in Angie Thomas' The Hate U Give. ”23 May 2020.Web. 2 February 2021.
7. Thomas, Angie. The Hate U Give. New York: Harper Collins, 2017. Print. “Praise for
The Hate U Give”.10 December 2018. Web. 16 January. 2021.
8. Yanti, Nisa Ritma.“Starr Cartler's Brave Decision against Institutional Racism in
Angie Thomas 'The Hate U Give.” July 2019.Web.2 February 2021.