Garden Heights and The Carter Family

The Hate U Give introduces us to the world of Garden Heights, a predominantly Black neighborhood that serves as the primary setting for much of the novel's action. This chapter provides a detailed look at the Carter family home and the community they live in.

The Carter family home is described with vivid details, including:

• Flowered wallpaper
• Pink in every room, reminiscent of Nana
• A painting of Black Jesus in the hallway
• Photographs of Malcolm X

Highlight: The home's decor reflects the family's cultural identity and heritage, with elements that connect them to both their personal history and broader African American culture.

Maverick Carter, Starr's father, takes care of the garden, which symbolizes his efforts to nurture and protect his family and community.

Garden Heights is portrayed as a complex neighborhood:

• It's described as a "battlefield" in recent months
• There are both good and bad areas
• Gangs are present, but so is a strong sense of community

Quote: "Some days, we are at the bottom in Garden Heights, but we still share the feeling that damn, it could be worse" (p. 19, ll. 20-21)

This quote encapsulates the resilience and solidarity of the Garden Heights community despite their challenges.

The chapter also introduces the concept of "Thug Life," which is central to understanding the novel's themes:

Definition: THUG LIFE - "The Hate U Give Little Infants F*cks Everybody"

This acronym, attributed to Tupac Shakur, explains how societal hatred and oppression of youth, especially in Black communities, leads to a cycle of violence and struggle that affects everyone.

The chapter concludes by introducing the Black Lives Matter movement and its counterparts:

• #BlackLivesMatter aims to stop police violence against African Americans and combat racism
• #AllLivesMatter is presented as a controversial response, often seen as dismissive of Black struggles
• #BlueLivesMatter supports police officers and calls for punishment of violence against them

These movements set the stage for the social and political conflicts that will unfold throughout the novel.

Character Map and Relationships

This chapter provides a comprehensive character map for The Hate U Give, illustrating the complex web of relationships that form the backbone of the story.

Central to the map is Starr Carter, the 16-year-old protagonist. Her character is defined by her dual life:

1. In Garden Heights: A poor, primarily Black neighborhood
2. At Williamson Prep: A wealthy, predominantly white school

Highlight: Starr's divided life is a crucial element of her character development and the novel's exploration of code-switching and racial identity.

Key family relationships include:

• Lisa Carter (mother) and Maverick Carter (father)
• Seven and Sekani (brothers)
• Uncle Carlos (who served as a father figure when Maverick was in prison)

Starr's friends are divided between her two worlds:

• In Garden Heights: Kenya
• At Williamson Prep: Hailey Grant and Maya Yang

Vocabulary: Code-switching - The practice of alternating between two or more languages or varieties of language in conversation, often used to describe how people of color adapt their speech and behavior in predominantly white spaces.

The character map also includes significant figures from the broader community:

• Khalil Harris: Starr's childhood best friend who is shot by a police officer
• King: Leader of the King Lords gang
• One-Fifteen: The white police officer who shoots Khalil
• April Ofrah: Starr's lawyer and activist

Example: The relationship between Starr and Chris, her white boyfriend, represents the challenges of interracial relationships and the bridging of Starr's two worlds.

This detailed character map helps readers understand the complex social dynamics at play in the novel, from family ties to community relationships to the broader societal conflicts that drive the plot.