Julian

1/15/18
D Block
Banned Books: Evil or Not?

As New York Times bestselling author Ellen Hopkins writes, “To you

zealots and bigots and false patriots who live in fear of discourse… Ideas are

incombustible/And therein lies your real fear.” In essence, she is conveying that

no matter what actions are taken to ban books, the ideas from them can and will

leak out into society. Ideas cannot be contained, and efforts to stop them are

futile. Not only that, but many of these ideas are beneficial, even when the topic

is controversial. That’s why I believe that no book at a middle school library

should be banned, including The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, even if it

contains mature content.

First, many parents censor books because they want to protect their

children, yet I disagree with this notion. Procon.org, a website designed to

impartially inform viewers of both sides of an argument, argues “parents have the

right to decide what material their children are exposed to and when.” In other

words, it is commonly believed that it is a parent’s job to control the influx of

content their child obtains, and for this reason, banning books would be

acceptable. However, in the words of Regan McMahon, an anti-banning activist

at Common Sense Media, “There is more to a book than the swear words in it,”

describing how parents who are quick to challenge a book need to understand

that there is often a deeper meaning to the inappropriate content which they look

at so shallowly. Not a single book should be banned, because almost always the

“inappropriate” content they have adds more meaning to the story.

 In particular, The Hate U Give is challenged due to its sexual content, but

this content is important for the reader. In the book, the protagonist, Starr, has a

relationship with a boy named Chris. Though they are in high school, the two

make strong advances towards each other. In one case, when they are at Chris’

house by themselves, they go up to his bedroom. Chris begins to approach Starr

in a sexual manner, and “then he got going, and [Starr] really wasn’t thinking. At

all… and right… at that moment, he… pulled out a condom” (81), undoubtedly an

unexpected move. After reading this, many people would declare that the book

goes too far, that it could prompt inappropriate sexual behavior. However, soon

after, Starr rejects Chris’ move, recognizing that, “condom or no condom, sh*t

happens” (81), teaching the young reader a valuable life lesson. Starr proves to

them that sex is not right for their age. The content included in the book is for an

acceptable reason, and is not just there to be inappropriate. Banning the book

would only worsen teenagers’ experiences as they move into adulthood.

Another reason The Hate U Give has been challenged is because of its

inclusion of alcohol and drugs, an objection which is ill-advised. In the beginning,

Starr is at a party in her home neighborhood, Garden Heights. Alcohol is illegally

served as a beverage and drugs are being used. Because of “the headache from

the loud-a** music and the nausea from the weed odor, [Starr would] be amazed

if [she crossed] the room without spilling [her] drink” (1). One possible complaint

stemming from this passage is that teen readers should not be exposed to

content containing drugs and/or alcohol, as they could experiment with drugs

themselves. On the other hand, Regan McMahon writes that “kids crave relatable
books,” suggesting that books that parallel real-life experiences are not only valid

but helpful. Adult topics, including controlled substances, regularly seep into a

child’s life, whether through jokes friends make or parents with abuse issues. The

Hate U Give and many other books should not be banned because readers, even

young ones, need them for support. In fact, letting books be accessible to young

readers will lead to better decision making on their part.

In conclusion, banned books are essential to our future. Teenagers who

will grow up to shape the world cannot be ignorant to any cause. Imagine a world

where a leader does not know the dangers of alcohol and drugs because their

parents made sure they never heard about it. This has to be avoided. Like it or

not, teenagers need to know about the hardships that exist in society. Shielding

them from “dangerous” content is wrong.

 Ban or No Ban?

There is no book that should be banned, including The Hate U Give by

Angie Thomas. And while, Thomas’s book depicts racism, violence, and drugs

that does not mean that it has to be banned from middle school libraries. The

Hate U Give will teach kids that racism is an immoral belief and should not be a

problem. The decision of whether to read a book or not should be left up to the

individual who is reading the book, and not to the parent of that one child who

can't handle the content inside that book.

Just because some parents don't want their child to read a book with

violence doesn't mean that it should be banned from other children. At a certain

moment in The Hate U Give, Starr, the main character, is having a flashback

about when her dad was telling Khalil and Starr to do if they were ever in a

situation with a police officer. “Keep your hands visible. No sudden moves. Only

speak when spoken to”(95). All parents “parent” in different ways. If you are a

parent and you don't want your child to be exposed to mature content just yet

then; you just need to not read that book until your child is ready to be exposed

to that content. Books that get banned usually have a bigger picture that teaches

the readers something that they wouldn't see in the real world.

The Hate U Give shows readers that the real world can be scary, but you

can get through it. Non-Fiction is the best way for your child to learn about these

experiences. What parents don't know about their child is that he or she are most

likely are already exposed to drugs and violence. As Starr states, “He pointed a

gun at you. That was more than enough”(254). Some parents would want this
book to be banned because it shows cops and people shooting and killing each

other because of the color of their skin and their opinion of the world. But without

this book, your child would eventually find out in a different way. This book shows

the readers that just because the color of your skin is different or your opinion is

different, doesn't mean it is right to hurt others because of what they did or what

they think.

Angie Thomas made this book to show the readers that there is a lot of

racism still in the world. If this book was banned then children and parents

wouldn't get to see the problem of racism and how it is ruining so many people

lives.‘“Khalil does. He comes to our door, it's not smart to make a sudden move.

Khalil does. He opens the driver's door. “You okay Starr...POW!”’(pg.23) The

parents don't want to see that the white cop shot the colored man when he didn't

do anything to deserve for his life to be taken. This connects to other real-world

problems like police violence and drugs and out of hand parties. If children read

this book when they are ready they will see that there is no difference in the

people with color and no color.

In conclusion, no book including The Hate U Give should be banned from

middle school libraries. All of the life lessons that could be taught from this book

are endless and if this book gets banned then all of those lessons will be lost. If

your child isn’t ready for the book then your child should not read that book. But,

this doesn't mean that it has to banned it just means that your child isn’t ready for

that book.
 Diana
1/23/18
D block

The Hate U Give; Appropriate or Not?

Imagine your child not having access to certain books because some

other parent decided that they were too inappropriate for their children. Do you

think it is fair that one parent can make a decision with their child in mind, while

ignoring children besides their own? Should the decision of whether or not

adolescents should read certain book for all the young teens using that library be

decided because of one person’s beliefs? Although some people may think this

is okay, many think that censorship should not be allowed. That is why I think

that no book, including The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, should be banned for

middle school readers, regardless of the content that may seem too inappropriate

for young teens.

Books should not be banned for middle schoolers because every reader

has a choice as to whether they are mature enough to read certain content.

According to ProCon.org, “Parents may control what their children read, but don’t

have a right to restrict what books are available to other people.” Every reader is

different, and each individual can handle different levels of mature content. All

adolescents should have access to good books, even if there is some

inappropriate content because in every book there are still useful morals to be

taught. Also, many censored books have a lot more good knowledge to offer than

inappropriate content. Additionally, mature content grows character and expands

young teens knowledge of real world issues so they can morph into sensable
adults. Despite that, if the reader doesn’t feel comfortable reading a certain book

then they do not have to read it, but the book shouldn’t get taken away from

everyone because it might be a just right book for another child.

Some people may think The Hate U Give should be banned because it

has a lot of violence that could be traumatizing. At the beginning of the book,

Kahlil, a black teen, gets shot by a police officer, “Pow! One. Khalil’s body jerks.

Blood splatters from his back” (23). This type of violence might cause emotional

distress for young middle schooler readers as well as possible increase in violent

behavior. Although, readers who have experienced or seen gun violence in their

own life might be able to relate to the characters and empathize with the

characters. Also, parents shouldn’t shield their kids from the real world. In my

opinion, not knowing about the bad parts of the world is a lot more dangerous

than reading about it in a book. If your child were to be in a dangerous situation,

wouldn’t you want them to be able to defend themselves and know what to do?

Most importantly, this small part of violence in the beginning of the book doesn’t

take away from the important lessons this book has to offer, or the overall

message and theme.

Secondly, The Hate U Give should not be banned because it teaches

adolescents an important life lesson about self empowerment. At the very end of

the book, the main character Starr says, “‘Khalil, I’ll never forget. I’ll never give

up. I’ll never be quiet’” (444). Starr is teaching the reader that they should speak

up for what they believe in, just like Starr learns to do by the end of the story.

Middle schoolers should know that even though they are still young, their voice
matters, and they can make a difference in the world. Especially with everything

that is going on in the world right now like climate change and the border wall

between the United States and Mexico, adolescents should not be silent and

keep their opinions to themselves. At the end of this book, I felt empowered to go

out and fight for what I believe in and make my voice heard.

Lastly, The Hate U Give should not be banned because it is a safe way to

introduce modern day racism to young teen readers. After Khalil’s funeral, some

of his school friends held a protest for police brutality against black people, “His

classmates have posters saying ‘Am I Next?’ and ‘Enough is Enough!’” (112).

This book helps me understand some of the struggles black people go through in

a safe way where I can ask questions to trusted adults without being insensitive.

Now that I am more educated on this topic, I will not offend anyone or be

insensitive when I go out in the real world. I know some readers will be able to

relate with the characters in the book if they have gone through these hardships

in real life. It is much better for a young teen to learn about these topics from a

book with accurate representation of what it is like to be discriminated against as

well as appropriate ways to handle racism, rather than learning this information

from a friend at school.

Believe it or not, banning books does more harm than good. Go to your

public library today and try to get banned books back on the shelves.
 Elle
1/24/19
B Block

The Hate U Give

Adults have protected middle schoolers from the real world for too long.

Many adults fight to ban books that include profanity, mature content, and

offensive racism. However, taking books away from children also takes away

valuable knowledge. Common Sense Media wrote, “Controversial books are a

type of virtual reality.” These books open up children’s eyes to a world that they

may not be aware of. As a result, middle schoolers are able to gain valuable

knowledge about society that will prepare them for the real world. The Hate U

Give, by Angie Thomas, is an example of a book that should not be banned from

middle school readers because the book teaches valuable lessons about

important topics such as injustice.

First, The Hate U Give illustrates how black people fear for their safety

when approached by police officers. Unfortunately, black parents have to teach

their children how to act when they are approached by a police officer. White

parents, however, do not have to have this conversation with their children. For

example, in the book, Starr was taught at 12-years-old how to act when

approached by police officers. During the conversation, Starr’s “Momma fussed

and told (her) Daddy (she) was too young for that. He argued that (she) wasn’t

too young to get arrested or shot” (20). White children are raised to believe that

police officers are there to protect and keep people safe. Black children, on the

other hand, are raised to fear police officers, and constantly fear for their safety.

Due to stereotypes, black people are more likely to be targeted by police.

Children of all races need to be educated about the fears of black people. Books

such as The Hate U Give highlight white privilege and raise awareness of the

hardships and worries that the black race has to deal with on a daily basis.

Second, The Hate U Give conveys the reality that racial profiling exists in

the justice system. In the beginning of the book, Starr, and her childhood best

friend, Khalil, were pulled over by a white police officer because a tail light was

broken on their car. Once Khalil questioned the police officer’s actions, the police

officer ordered Khalil to get out of the car and he was searched for weapons and

drugs. However, when nothing was found on Khalil, the police officer walked

back to his car and Khalil went to check on Starr. When the police officer turned

back around, he saw Khalil leaning into the car and the police officer assumed

that Khalil was grabbing a gun. As a result, the police officer shot Khalil, and

claimed he shot him in self defense. Starr explained that the police officer

“‘assumed that (they) were up to no good. Because (they’re) black and because

of where (they) live. (They) were just two kids, minding (their) own business…

His assumption killed Khalil” (290). Khalil and Starr were judged by the color of

their skin as opposed to their actions. If Khalil had been white, he would have still

been alive. The Hate U Give illustrates the potential dangerous outcomes of

racial profiling for black individuals.

Third, The Hate U Give demonstrates the importance of speaking out

against racial injustice. In the book, the police officer who shot Khalil was not

found guilty. In response, black and some white people protested for justice and

respect for the black race. Violent protests turned into verbal protests, and Starr
had realized why. As a result, “A lump forms in (Starr’s) throat as the truth hits

(her). Hard. ‘That’s why people are speaking out, huh? Because it won’t change

if we don’t say something’” (171). Words are very powerful. If people stay silent

when faced with an issue, then the issue will not be resolved. This is an

important lesson that all middle schoolers should be aware of. Not only does it

teach them about injustice towards other races, but it also teaches them to speak

up for what is right. Knowing that their voice is powerful will hopefully encourage

middle schoolers to stand up for equality for all people.

Even though The Hate U Give teaches valuable lessons about injustice,

some adults believe that the book should not be available to middle schoolers

due to the profanity used throughout the book. Cursing was often a way

characters communicated with one another. For example, Starr told her black

friend about a party that her white friend held. Her friend replied “‘D*mn. For

real?’... ‘S*iiit. B***h, next time invite me” (10). When adolescents hear others

curse then they may think that it is okay to do so as well. However, there were

many times throughout the book when profanity was used to strongly express

how the black race felt after being treated with injustice. When the white police

officer was not charged for his actions, the black race was furious. Starr and her

father were two of the many people in the black community who sought justice.

Her father had told her that “(they) won’t stop getting f*cked till it changes”

(171). When words like “f*ck” are mentioned, or brought up, adolescents will pay

more attention because it is not a word that they are used to hearing on a daily

basis. Despite the fact that middle schoolers should not be exposed to curse
words, using profanity sometimes conveys how powerful feelings about

experiences can be.

In conclusion, books like The Hate U Give are frequently challenged

because adults believe that youth shouldn’t read books containing inappropriate

content. The Hate U Give, however, should not be banned from middle

schoolers. Angie Thomas includes valuable knowledge throughout the book that

adolescents should and need to be exposed to. When adolescents are aware of

issues that are true to their society, they will gain a better understanding of the

hardships that people in the minority face on a daily basis. A better

understanding will raise empathy and hopefully encourage middle schoolers to

stand up for injustice. Overall, middle schoolers should be allowed to read The

Hate U Give because it opens up their eyes to the real world.

 Should The Hate U Give Be Banned From Middle School Libraries?
The American Library Association held a “Banned Book Week” from September

23rd to 29th that people of all vocations shared an opportunity to seek freedom in reading

books that were challenged or banned all over the world. When people think that some

books are inappropriate for a variety of reasons, the action they choose to keep these

books away is banning them. As countless books are banned for numerous reasons, such

as profanity and inappropriate contents, people, especially parents, believe that some age

groups should be “protected” from offensive opinions to religions, profanity, descriptions

of drugs, alcohols and etc by book banning. Consequently, some people strongly protest

against the attempt for children to leave the shelter their parents built for them and

become poisoned by the misleading messages conveyed through books. However, if

book banning continues, students would lose an exceptional chance to read wonderful

books. No books, including The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, should be banned for

middle school readers, due to the important messages and lessons they convey, regardless

of their inappropriate content.

First and foremost, many people emphasize the benefits of children learning new

and important lessons from banned books that they would not have realized otherwise.

Many middle school students reserve their own concerns to themselves because they

often feel awkward about certain issues. However, Regan McMahon, a journalist, the

mother of two athletic children and former book editor for the San Francisco

Chronicle, writes on Common Sense Media that “young people may find a character

going through exactly what they are which makes it powerful reading experience and

helps the
readers sort out thorny issues like grief, divorce, sexual assault, bullying, prejudice and

sexual identity” without feeling uncomfortable (Regan McMahon, “Why Your Kid

Should Read Banned Books”). In this case, banned books encourage readers to face

issues with confidence, since the characters they read about are going through the same

process. They would be able to learn that others may feel the same way as they do, and

they can learn from the characters about what to do with their issues. Another factor is

that readers are able to learn the process of solving controversial issues from the

characters. Likewise, Neil Gaiman, the author of a frequently challenged book

Neverwhere claims that as readers are “being someone else”, they “learn that everyone

else there is a me, as well” and they can be “slightly changed” when they come back to

reality (Neil Gaiman, “Neil Gaiman: Why Our Future Depends on Libraries, Reading and

Daydreaming,” theguardian.com, Oct. 15, 2013). After reading all types of conflicts

characters have, children become aware of the importance of viewing from different

perspectives. They notice that people might hold different opinions and so readers handle

this by trying to develop a new perspective, which is a good lesson to learn at an early

age. The key point is that as they grow to understand others, children will hold empathy

for those who might be experiencing difficulties. Banned books help readers by

promoting them to advance a crucial social ability, which only brings advantages of

developing useful skills. Moreover, an organization called National Coalition against

Censorship emphasizes that even if banned books contain “objectionable” content, they

may still have “educational value...based on professional judgments and standards”

(National Coalition against Censorship, "Censorship and the First Amendment in

Schools: A Resource Guide," webjunction.org, May 9, 2016). It is essential for parents to

realize that experts on education can determine whether banned books are worth reading.

Consequently, why should anyone ban books containing important life lessons?

Notably, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas conveys positive messages of

courage, perseverance, and the importance of every individual through its words. In

the book, the best friend of the main character Starr, Khalil, is killed by a policeman for

no reason and the policeman is not charged. Starr is afraid to testify at the grand jury.

From Starr’s mother’s perspective, Thomas writes that “‘Brave doesn’t mean you’re not

scared… It means you go on even though you’re scared. And you are doing that’” (331).

This demonstrates Starr’s praiseworthy behaviors of speaking for justice. Readers look

past these words and find out the right thing to do in the situation when they face

challenges as well. Although readers might face an entirely different issue, being brave is

still a positive message to cheer them up. Furthermore, Starr’s mother cheers Starr up

when she intends to give up by telling her that “‘sometimes you can do everything right

and things will still go wrong. The key is to never stop doing right’” (369). Doing things

students believe are right may be frustrating, so they might feel uncomfortable under

overwhelming pressure. Nevertheless, The Hate U Give makes a profound argument by

persuading students to keep doing right in perseverance even if their efforts rarely pay

off. Another significant example is when Starr wonders about the value of Khalil’s life,

Thomas depicts her emotions by saying “your voices matter, your dreams matter, your

lives matter. Be the roses that grow in the concrete”(234). This emotional aspect is very

convincing as it informs teen readers that everyone is important enough to deserve a good

life, and none of them should be considered worthless people. It also reassures some of

the children with an inferiority complex that their existences are meaningful. As
adolescents might be self-abased for the insufficiency of their abilities, readers can

develop emotional confidence that they give approvals of their lives.

In addition, the depictions of injustice among Blacks and Whites in The Hate

U Give inform readers about the brutality of the society and their roles in it,

whether they are the oppressed minorities or the dominant suppressors. For

instance, Starr protests in her mind by saying “I did everything I was supposed to do, and

it wasn’t f*cking good enough. Khalil’s death wasn’t horrible enough to be considered a

crime” (388). While students learn about American founders’ ideals of equality, they are

informed about real “equality” in The Hate U Give, where one individual matters more

than another. Parents might argue that it misleads children by defaming police. However,

police brutality happens, and students deserve to know more about it. Correspondingly, it

also helps teen readers get a better sense of the differences between people, such as the

opposite point of views. Equally, Thomas illustrates that there are “‘...folks like Brenda

[Khalil’s mom], who think they need them [drugs] to survive...When the Khalils [thugs]

get arrested for selling drugs, they either spend most of their life in prison, or they have a

hard time getting a real job and probably start selling drugs again. That’s the hate they’re

giving us, a system designed against us. That’s Thug Life’” (170). This demonstrates a

recurring cycle of thug life. Readers might learn many stories of people becoming new

men after all the mistakes they have made. Instead, The Hate U Give opposes against the

notion by claiming that a ruthless pattern of thug life is repeating inevitably. Consistently,

teenagers may find out their roles in this recurring cycle, whether they are the people

living at the bottom of society, or people who oppress them, or even bystanders. In this
case, teenagers are encouraged to check on themselves, in order to make sure that their

behaviors would not end up with a victim of racial prejudice.

Conversely, books are commonly banned because of parents who intend to

protect children from inappropriate themes such as sex and violence. In detail, Erin

Manning, an American photographer, author, educator, and television personality,

writes that “...as if there were no legitimate reason why a group of parents might not want

their children reading novels in which gratuitous and explicit sex, violence, drug use, and

the like were major elements of the story” (Erin Manning, “It’s not Censorship, it’s

Parenting,” Nov 18, 2009). It is not parents’ fault if they do whatsoever that is necessary

to keep their children safe. Apparently, every parent loves their child and they want to

raise the child in the best condition as possible. However, banned books with topics

related to sex, drugs and etc. are considered as threats to the mental health of the children.

Therefore, the action of banning books is simply a protection, and it is nothing that can be

blamed for. Besides, Macey France of The American Academy of Pediatrics points out

that “‘[O]pting your child out of reading [a certain] book doesn’t protect him or her. They

are still surrounded by the other students who are going to be saturated with this book’”

(Macey France, “THIS Is Common Core-Approved for Children?," politichicks.com, July

30, 2015). This demonstrates parent’s common concern that even if they stop their own

children from reading certain books, there is no way to prevent other children, who have

read these books, to bring negative effects. Consequently, parents consider book banning

as the best method to protect all the children. Nevertheless, parents have no rights to

restrict what books are available to other children, as every teen reader has the right of

personal choices. Parents take away other readers’ freedom of choosing what they read.
Lastly, Weekly Standard writer and school board member Mark Hemingway states that

“Books in the young adult genre often contain adult themes that young people aren't

ready to experience” (Mark Hemingway, "In Defense of Book Banning,"

thefederalist.com, Mar. 11, 2014). Readers might feel uncomfortable and disgusted by

reading books that require a high level of maturity. As a result, book banning can protect

readers’ mental health from being devastated by banned books. Nonetheless,banned

books give students preparations for the future. At some point of a teenager’s life, he will

step into society and face the reality. Therefore, more preparations now only bring more

confidence when middle school readers face the same issues in the future.

In particular, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas would be banned because

its graphic descriptions relating to drug use, violence and profanity bring negative

effects to students. For instance, there is a scene where DeVante is caught by gang

members and he hurts so bad that “the plush white carpet is stained with his blood as it

trickles from his nose and mouth” (381). The details relating to blood may make readers

frightened of injuries and blood. This fear can be avoided as long as children no longer

read this book. However, the graphic details of blood scare readers off dangerous

behaviors that may involve injuries. The descriptions warn children not to repeat the

same mistakes the characters do. In addition, The Hate U Give is full of profanity,

including when black people protest in the book: “A car stereo loudly plays a record-

scratching sound, then Ice Cube says, ‘F**k the police, coming straight from the

underground. A young n*gga got it bad ’cause I’m brown’” (394). N*gga is another way

of saying the word n*gger and it is a very contemptuous term describing a dark-skinned

person of African heritage. Also, f**k is one of the worst profanity people can use in
daily life. The profanity in this book would negatively influence the language students

use every day. No parents want to see their children spitting out profanity in front of

them. Nevertheless, teenagers have already developed their own thinking and they are

able to make their own judgments about what is good or bad. Additionally, some of the

descriptions may traumatize readers to have nightmares. Thomas describes where Starr

lived as a place with “......the drug addicts roaming the streets, the broken-down Cedar

Grove projects, gangbangers flashing signs, bodies on the sidewalks with white sheets

over them” (245). The disturbingly intense descriptions are so engaging that readers can

imagine what happened by closing their eyes. They scare readers that they may become

afraid of going outside, not wanting to see people wandering around. And even if they

stay at home, nightmares haunt after them relentlessly. Counter to parents’ concern,

middle school readers are certainly old enough to distinguish reality and daydreaming. It

is very unlikely that any teenagers would be frightened like a small baby, hiding in a

bedroom and be desperate when their parents drag them out.

People are to imagine a future, of which book banning continues its long lasting

life. In the future, you may walk on a street and pass a library with crowds of people

blocking your way, putting up signs asking the library to ban all the books they consider

inappropriate. Eventually, when you finally fight your way through the crowds and step

into the library, you find no books on the shelves, and shelves become decorations. What

is the meaning of having a library that keeps people away from reaching for the

knowledge they want? If this is not the future you look forward to, go ahead and do

something.
 On the topic of banning books

If you come across something you don’t like or that makes you feel

uncomfortable in a book, what do you do? Would you do the logical thing and

simply put down the book, or would you work to get the book banned from public

libraries, restricting everyone’s right to read? In the defense of the First

Amendment, no book should be banned from any library, regardless of the

content it holds.

One of the many books mentioned in the list of challenged or banned is The

Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, due to its constant mention of drug purchase and

usage. One of the prime examples is one of the main characters named Khalil.

Khalil’s friend Starr is told by her friend Devante that “[Kahlil] didn't wanna sell

drugs Starr...nobody really wanna do that…[Khalil’s] momma stole from King.

King wanted her dead. Khalil found out and started selling to pay off the

debt”(237). Drugs come up a lot in Starr’s life, whether it be her best friend selling

them, or his mom getting hooked. This could cause many teachers and parents

to want the book removed simply for the mention of such things, despite the fact

that this is literally an example of what not to do in the book. Additionally, as

Laurence J. Peter, a Canadian Educator once said, “Against logic, there is no

armor like ignorance” and better discussion on topics like this can actually help

the understanding and solving of said problems.

An understandable justification for banning The Hate U Give is the

overwhelming amount of slurs and racist insults littering every page. A prime
example of this is when Starr’s friend Maya tells her how Hailey, one of the main

antagonists of the book asks “If [Maya’s] family ate dogs” (252) Sure, parents

may argue that this could normalize more racist behavior because Maya’s family

is Asian, but Angie Thomas later describes that Starr had “Only laughed because

[she] thought [she] was supposed to…[she] felt like sh*t the rest of the week…

That's the problem. We let people say stuff and they say it so much that it

becomes okay to them and normal for us. What's the point of having a voice is

you're gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn't be?”(252) The given

reaction to Hailey’s racist joke would be enough to convince anyone out of racist

behavior, and It really teaches a lesson that many kids in the targeted age group

should learn, that what you say to others really matters.

Imagine a child witnessing the tragic murder of their best friend. Now imagine

a child reading about the murder of someone’s best friend. These are two

drastically different experiences, right? Apparently not, as those who are more

biased towards removing children’s right to literature expect their kids to be

traumatized in the same way by both. Those same people have gone after The

Hate U Give because of the scene where Khalil is shot by a police officer.

Parents expect their kids to be dehumanized by the description of how "Khalil's

body jerks. blood splatters from his back. He holds on to the door to keep his

body upright. Pow!.... Khalil looks at me, stunned. He falls to the ground"(23).

Those looking to ban this type of material only think of the scary experience this

must be and expect their kids to suddenly become accustomed to

murder. Despite some readers worries about children, Mention of tragic

occurrences could instead teach them to value life even more, instead of doing

what an actual experience of said tragic event would do.

One can assume that an abundance of graphic material can get a book

challenged or banned because people automatically expect their kids to be

desensitized by the book. These beliefs are purely ironic, as according to Regan

McMahon, a writer of Common Sense Media, “Exploring complex topics like

sexuality, violence, substance abuse, suicide, and racism through well-drawn

characters lets kids contemplate morality and vast aspects of the human

condition, build empathy for people unlike themselves, and possibly discover a

mirror of their own experience.” Many books are challenged by those who

oppose the opinions or messages displayed in the book. Rather than ignoring

other cultures and perspectives, one can learn about other people instead of

sticking to stereotypes. By taking away books their children can learn from,

parents are denying their children essential growing opportunities, increasing

their ignorance towards many of the issues that plague our society.

Human progress is held back by the ignorant and the uneducated, who fail to

provide reasonable approaches to any remotely debatable topic. As a society, we

hope to be as educated as possible in the future. The best way to do this is to

reserve full public access to all books. Better access to a wider range of books

can overall teach important lessons, such as ‘don’t do drugs’ or ‘what you say

matters’ banning certain books is equivalent to denying children the chance to

learn lessons and grow as individuals.

-Sean M.
 Caroline
1-15-19
A Block
The Hate U Give

“Yes, books are dangerous. They should be dangerous--they contain ideas,”

explains writer Pete Hautman. He wants to tell people that it is not a bright idea to ban

books because books are a great way of expressing how the author and the reader feel. It

allows readers to learn to grow as an individual. One of the books that has been

challenged is The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Itis about a girl named Starr who is

constantly shifting between two worlds, a poor community made of mostly black people

and a substantially white school, filled with primarily rich people. The uneasy balance

between these worlds is soon shattered when she witnesses the fatal shooting of her

childhood best friend at the hands of a police officer. Facing pressure from all sides of the

community, Starr must find her voice and decide whether or not to stand up for what's

right. No book, including The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, should be banned

because it exposes kids to things that will help them grow as an individual.

First, The Hate U Give teaches kids concepts that will help them in the future

which can prepare children for difficult situations. One example of this is when Star’s

dad teaches her what to do if she was ever to be pulled over by a cop, “‘Starr- Starr, you

do whatever they tell you to do,’ he said, ‘Keep your hands visible. Don’t make any

sudden move. Only speak when they speak to you”’(Thomas 20). This quote shows how

the book teaches kids lessons that they can use in their future. This is important for young

kids to know so if they ever get pulled over in their future they know what to do and it

will reduce the chance of them getting into conflict with police and may even prevent

them from getting killed.

 Another reason this book should not be banned is because it raises awareness

of real life situations and real life problems, like racism. In one part of the book the

protagonist reflects on how she’s “...seen it happen over and over again: a black person

gets killed just for being black, and all hell breaks loose” (Thomas 34).this quote just

shows how this book exposes kids to topics like racism and violence. It’s good to expose

kids to these things so they have an understanding of it when they get older and this

allows kids to be able to understand all the problems that are going on in the world which

may encourage them to do something to prevent it and ultimately make the world a better

place.

Lastly, it exposes kids to legitimate problems like police shootings and it

teaches kids that things like shootings happen a lot nowadays in society. By

normalizing situations like this it allows the reader to be aware of these situations

and causes them to be more cautious. One important part of the book is when Starr’s

friends Khalil gets pulled over, she knows, “It’s not smart to make a sudden move, Khalil

does. He opens the drivers door, ‘You okay, Starr-’ POW! One. Khalil’s body jerks.

Blood splatter 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”

(Thomas 21). This quote teaches kids to be careful and it tells them to be cautious when

put in a difficult and possibly fatal situation. This is important because it will impact their

future and it will prevent the same thing from happening to them. Another reason this is

important is because it informs kids on what is happening everyday in society.

Some people may believe that there are too many swear and that it will

encourage kids to start saying them. One quote they can refer to is when some says
“Ain’t this some sh*t?” (Thomas 7). People may think this is bad because it exposes kids

to foul language; they may feel as if it will encourage their kid to start using bad words as

well. However this is not true, on the contrary it actually has many benefits, Emma

Byrne, the author of Swearing Is Good For You: The Amazing Science of Bad Language

writes that, “Scientifically speaking, swearing is good for you. It deadens pain and

enlivens our emotional discourse. We know that its effects are physiological as well as

psychological; it raises our heart rates and releases adrenaline whether we use it.” (Emma

Byrne ). This proves that swearing is not bad and that it is not the end of the world

if kids starts to swear; if anything swearing is actually a good thing that can help benefit

a child.

If we stopped banning books like The Hate U Give kids would be able to learn

about stuff that they need and would be aware of the situations that happen in real life.

Banning books in general is not a good idea because it does not benefit a child and

instead harms them. Judy Blume, an author of many best selling books states that

“Having the freedom to read and the freedom to choose is one of the best gifts my parents

ever gave me.” This just shows that banning books is not a good thing and that having the

freedom to choose what you read has more benefits.