How do we tackle racism head-on and stand up for one another? THUG by Angie Thomas advocates for a confrontation of racism in two ways: calling out instances of racism and microaggression when we see it; finding and being authentic, genuine allies of POC. As shown in the novel, sometimes we have to be uncomfortable to stand up for whats right. Starr, our main protagonist, did just that in THUG.
Firstly, it is important to address that, “You can say something racist and not be a racist!” (Thomas 112). Starr said this to Hailey when they were playing a basketball match. Hailey made an insensitive comment, telling Starr to imagine that the ball was a piece of fried chicken so that she could get her head in the game. This is a microaggression, …show more content…
As Starr approaches the two of them, she sees a smug expression on Hailey and some smug remarks from her. She holds out a picture of Khalil at Starr’s 12th birthday party. Hailey thought Khalil looked a bit too familiar and figured out why. Hailey called Starr a liar for not telling her and demanded an apology from her. Say this was the reason Starr kept picking fights with her because she was upset with what happened to Khalil, “You even accused me of being racist.” (340) Maya interjects “But you have said and done some racist stuff. So.” went off with each other, Maya also brings up what happened in freshman year after Thanksgiving break. “I’m not apologizing because it was only a joke!” Hailey shouts. Starr told her how harmful her joke was and that if she cared about Maya, she would apologize and try to understand why that hurt her. Hailey said she needs to get over and Starr needs to get over what happened to Khalil, “Somebody was gonna kill him eventually.” (341) Hailey said. Starr was enraged, Starr did not want to be seen as the ‘angry black girl’ at school, but right now she did not care, she’s angry and pissed. Hailey and everyone else needs to know. She swung at the side of Hailey’s face, it hurt, but Starr felt really good. Starr was done worrying about what others thought of her at Willamson, she knows who her real friends are, how and who will stand up to her in moments of discrimination. In the THUG, Starr showed us to be an advocate, you have to call it as you see it. At times, it can be ugly and uncomfortable, especially in certain
Firstly, it is important to address that, “You can say something racist and not be a racist!” (Thomas 112). Starr said this to Hailey when they were playing a basketball match. Hailey made an insensitive comment, telling Starr to imagine that the ball was a piece of fried chicken so that she could get her head in the game. This is a microaggression, …show more content…
As Starr approaches the two of them, she sees a smug expression on Hailey and some smug remarks from her. She holds out a picture of Khalil at Starr’s 12th birthday party. Hailey thought Khalil looked a bit too familiar and figured out why. Hailey called Starr a liar for not telling her and demanded an apology from her. Say this was the reason Starr kept picking fights with her because she was upset with what happened to Khalil, “You even accused me of being racist.” (340) Maya interjects “But you have said and done some racist stuff. So.” went off with each other, Maya also brings up what happened in freshman year after Thanksgiving break. “I’m not apologizing because it was only a joke!” Hailey shouts. Starr told her how harmful her joke was and that if she cared about Maya, she would apologize and try to understand why that hurt her. Hailey said she needs to get over and Starr needs to get over what happened to Khalil, “Somebody was gonna kill him eventually.” (341) Hailey said. Starr was enraged, Starr did not want to be seen as the ‘angry black girl’ at school, but right now she did not care, she’s angry and pissed. Hailey and everyone else needs to know. She swung at the side of Hailey’s face, it hurt, but Starr felt really good. Starr was done worrying about what others thought of her at Willamson, she knows who her real friends are, how and who will stand up to her in moments of discrimination. In the THUG, Starr showed us to be an advocate, you have to call it as you see it. At times, it can be ugly and uncomfortable, especially in certain