The Hate U Give 2018

The curtain opens on the Carter family gathered around their kitchen table, where patriarch Maverick (Russell Hornsby) imparts wisdom to his three children - Starr, Seven, and Sekani - about navigating a world where blackness is often a source of shame. With a heavy dose of reality, he hands them the ten-step program from Black Panther, a symbol of resistance and empowerment in their predominantly African American neighborhood of Garden Heights. This is a community marred by gang violence, yet still thriving with entrepreneurial spirit.

Fast-forward to the early 2010s, where Starr (Amandla Stenberg), the eldest child, finds herself caught between two worlds. She lives with her mother Lisa (Regina Hall) and half-brother Seven (Lamar Johnson) in Garden Heights, but attends Williamson, a prestigious prep school in a predominantly white neighborhood. As she navigates this delicate balancing act, Starr struggles to reconcile her desire for authenticity with the pressure to conform.

Starr’s relationships reflect this tension. Her boyfriend Chris (KJ Apa) - a charming but imperfect suitor - apologizes and attempts to win her back through his awkward dance moves. Meanwhile, she faces whispers and side-eye from white classmates who disapprove of their interracial romance.

On the night of a Garden Heights party, Starr is reunited with childhood friend Khalil (Algee Smith), amidst a sea of familiar faces. As Kenya (Dominique Fishback), Seven’s sister, egotistically expects her to back her up in a fight, Starr refuses to participate, instead finding solace in Khalil’s company. Their conversation is interrupted by the sounds of violence and chaos erupting outside - a moment that will forever alter the trajectory of their lives. As panic sets in, Starr finds herself swept away from the party, into Khalil’s car, with no idea what the future holds.

As Khalil and Starr cruise through the evening, Tupac’s smooth vocals painting a backdrop of nostalgia and longing, they find themselves lost in conversation, reminiscing about carefree childhood escapades with their friend Natasha. The memories are bittersweet, punctuated by whispers of Khalil being Starr’s first kiss - a tender moment that lingers like the faintest hint of possibility. But as the night wears on, Khalil’s gentle advances are met with a firm “I have a boyfriend,” and he obliges, pulling back into the flow of traffic. Little do they know, their peaceful evening is about to take a drastic turn.

The next thing they know, they’re being pulled over by Officer Mackintosh (Drew Starkey), his badge number 115 etched on his mind like a battle cry. The officer claims Khalil failed to signal a lane change, but Khalil’s protestations fall on deaf ears. Starr’s hands grip the dashboard as she urges her friend to comply with the officer’s demands. But when Khalil reaches into the car for what looks like a hairbrush - and Mackintosh mistakes it for a weapon - the situation spirals out of control. The officer opens fire, and Khalil slumps to the ground, his life slipping away. Starr rushes to his side, her cries muffled by sobs as she holds him close.

In the aftermath, Starr is hauled in for questioning by two detectives, her mother by her side. But instead of probing the details of that fateful night, they’re more interested in Khalil’s potential involvement with drugs than the brutal reality of his death. It’s a gross injustice that leaves Starr reeling. Her uncle Carlos (Common), another officer, eventually intervenes, whisking Lisa and Starr away from the prying eyes of those who would exploit their trauma. For days to come, Starr is haunted by the ghosts of that night, unable to muster the courage to share her story with anyone at school, least of all her friends.

As Starr arrives at Khalil’s wake, she pays her respects to his grandmother, Miss Rosalie (Rhonda Johnson Dents), who shares a poignant revelation: Khalil’s only true friend was none other than Starr herself. With tears in her eyes, Miss Rosalie confides that Khalil had been entangled with the King Lords, selling drugs under the leadership of the enigmatic King (Anthony Mackie). Amidst the solemn atmosphere, a heated debate ensues between Maverick and Carlos regarding whether or not to investigate the circumstances surrounding Khalil’s tragic demise.

The Carters then attend Khalil’s funeral at a local church, where a sense of unease settles over the congregation. Iesha, Seven’s biological mother (Karan Kendrick), demands he join her, King, and his siblings in the back pews, disrupting the mournful hymns. Lisa intervenes, urging Seven to comply, as the choir’s harmonies struggle to drown out the cacophony of grief.

At the funeral, a stirring speech is delivered by April Ofrah (Issa Rae), a determined lawyer who shines a light on the systemic injustices faced by young, unarmed black teens across the country. Her words are laced with conviction as she alludes to her knowledge of Starr’s involvement in Khalil’s shooting, despite this information being unknown to the public at large.

April later visits the Carters, extending an olive branch to Starr: a chance to share her story and bring attention to the senseless tragedy that has befallen their community. Although hesitant, April reassures Starr that it is her choice whether or not to participate. As they converse, Starr’s thoughts turn to Natasha, a childhood friend whose life was brutally cut short by a King Lord’s bullet when they were all just kids. The weight of Starr’s silence and guilt hangs heavy in the air.

April leaves with words of encouragement, urging Starr to seize this opportunity to bring about justice for Khalil and break free from the shackles of her past. With a newfound sense of purpose, Starr and her parents attend the interview, where her face is obscured and voice distorted. As she shares her story, revealing Khalil’s affiliation with the King Lords, King himself watches on TV, his expression a testament to the gravity of the situation unfolding before him.

As the evening unfolds, the Carters’ dinner is disrupted by the ominous presence of King and his cohorts looming outside, their menacing demeanor palpable. Maverick ventures out to confront the threat, only to be met with an escalating situation that culminates in a tense standoff with the authorities. The arrival of two police officers marks the beginning of a harrowing encounter, as one officer, a black man, takes Maverick into a physical restraint right before his family’s eyes. Lisa rushes out to produce identification, but the tension escalates further when the white officer demands Seven’s ID, sparking a heated exchange that ultimately results in the police backing down and departing. The traumatic aftermath leaves little Sekani visibly shaken.

The strain from this encounter seeps into Starr’s life at school, where she struggles to cope with the fallout. As her peers use Khalil’s death as a pretext to skip class, feigning empathy for the cause, Starr finds herself growing increasingly detached from Chris. The cracks in their relationship widen when they watch a news report detailing the torrent of death threats leveled against 115 and his family for killing Khalil. Hailey’s unexpected display of sympathy for 115, rather than Khalil, further strains their friendship.

During a heart-to-heart with her mother Lisa, Starr confesses the turmoil brewing within, prompting Lisa to gently admonish her daughter for mindlessly following Hailey’s lead without considering her own thoughts and feelings. As prom night arrives, Starr accompanies Chris to the event, but she is met with an uncomfortable reception from their peers. In his limousine, Chris confronts Starr about her silence regarding Khalil’s death, sensing that she has been hiding this crucial aspect of her life from him. Starr feels that Chris fails to grasp the unique burdens she faces as a black girl, and that he appears oblivious to her identity.

Note: I’ve rephrased the section in a way that maintains the original meaning while using different words and sentence structure. I’ve also added more details and descriptive language to make it more engaging and vivid.

Here’s a rephrased version of the section:

As Chris (character) brings Starr and Seven home, they’re met with an unexpected encounter - Maverick’s disapproving gaze. Despite Lisa’s warm reception, Maverick’s displeasure is palpable, fueled by his perception that Starr has chosen to date a white boy over his own black masculinity. As Chris departs, Maverick shares his sense of failure in not being able to instill in Starr the importance of black male identity. Seven and Maverick respond by leaving the relative safety of Carlos’s house to stand guard at their original home, despite Lisa’s adamant protests against both men venturing back.

Later, Starr takes the stand before a grand jury, determined to share her account of Khalil’s character and the reality that 115 (character) failed to convey. Meanwhile, tensions simmer at school when Hailey confronts Starr about moving on from Khalil’s passing. Starr has reached her breaking point and fires back, revealing that Hailey’s friendship was rooted in a skewed perception of Starr as a non-threatening black girl. When Hailey confirms this, Starr seizes her hairbrush and brandishes it like a weapon, forcing Hailey to tears.

As Chris drives Starr home, they’re met with the sight of a group of protesters marching toward City Hall. A flurry of phone checks reveals that 115 was acquitted in Khalil’s death, sending Starr into turmoil. The arrival of Kenya’s text, urging them to retrieve Seven from King’s house, serves as a grim reminder of the brutality he has faced at the hands of his abuser.

Upon arriving at King’s home, Starr and Chris are met with a disturbing scene: Kenya and Lyric tending to Seven’s wounds while Iesha remains callous, prioritizing her own drink over the well-being of those around her. As the kids flee out the front door, they’re forced to make a hasty exit when King returns home.

As Starr and her companions approach City Hall, they’re met by a sea of protesters, their voices raised in defiance. But before they can join the fray, a SWAT team swoops in, blocking their path. With a quick glance at Chris, Starr dispatches Kenya and Lyric to safety, then spots April handing out megaphones like badges of honor. She takes one, hoisting it aloft as she rallies the crowd with her own powerful voice - not just hers alone, she reminds them, but that of every single person standing before City Hall today. The police respond with a barrage of tear gas grenades, and Starr seizes one, firing it back at the authorities with a defiant cry.

As the toxic fog envelops them, Starr and Seven stumble out into the chaos, blinded by the noxious fumes. Two friends of Maverick swoop in to rescue them, whisking away not just the siblings but two others as well. As they speed away from the melee, Starr instructs her driver to head to her father’s store for a supply of milk - the ultimate balm for the tear gas burns plaguing their skin.

The men deliver Starr and Seven to Maverick’s shop, where they’re greeted with open arms…and a sea of milk. As the pair douse their faces in the soothing liquid, the men depart, leaving Starr and her brother at the mercy of King’s goons. It’s then that King sets his sights on the Carters, sparking a confrontation that ends with Maverick brandishing a firearm - or so he thinks, until Sekani reveals himself as its actual wielder.

With gun drawn, Sekani trains it on King, who sees the threat and lunges forward. Maverick intervenes, threatening to end King’s reign once and for all…only to find that Sekani has already taken care of business. As two white cops arrive on the scene, drawing their own guns on Sekani, Starr stands tall, her hands raised in a desperate bid to protect her brother. Her words pierce the air: “How many more have to die before you understand?” It’s a plea that silences the police, prompting them to lower their weapons.

In the aftermath, King meets his comeuppance as multiple testimonies seal his fate and render his reign over the neighborhood nothing more than a distant memory. Meanwhile, Starr and Chris mend fences, growing stronger with each passing day. Hailey may no longer be in her orbit, but Maya remains a cherished friend. Seven graduates from high school, his future brightening like a beacon on the horizon as he prepares to take on college. And Maverick’s shop? A symbol of resilience, rising anew from the ashes like a phoenix.

As Starr (enter actor name) arrives at Khalil’s humble abode, she is greeted by the wise and enigmatic Miss Rosalie, who extends an unexpected invitation: the freedom to claim whatever treasures lie within Khalil’s sacred space. With a sense of liberation and wonder, Starr ventures forth into the room, her eyes widening as she discovers the remnants of a bygone era - a collection of “Harry Potter” wands, once wielded with reckless abandon during carefree days of youth.

As she delves deeper into the memories hidden within those wooden wonders, Starr’s resolve is reinvigorated. With a deep breath and an unwavering determination, she utters a solemn vow: to illuminate the shadows that have long plagued her world, and to live up to the radiant spirit that has been her guiding light all along.