The Hate U Give?

Khalil’s hairbrush is symbolic of the distrust that police officers have for minorities. One of the protest chants, “A hairbrush is not a gun!”, represents the anger that the African-American community feels when it comes to the shooting of unarmed black people based on stereotypes, fear, and incomplete information. The hairbrush also invokes the 1999 death of Amadou Diallo. Police officers mistakenly believed that Diallo’s wallet was a gun and fired 41 shots at him. Diallo’s death led to an explosive controversy and national debate over racial profiling and police brutality.

Black Jesus is a symbol of the strength of African-Americans in the face of oppression. Maverick appropriates white-dominated Christianity by making Jesus black and leads his family in a group prayer each morning. The family derives strength from their prayer every day without relying on a white power or ideal. Black Jesus is also symbolic of the blended religion of Starr’s family; Maverick, for example, does not approve of eating pork, which is a Muslim practice. The Carters frequently turn to Black Jesus for guidance while feeling pride for the strength of black people everywhere.