Once again, I would like you to respond to two prompts (at least 150 words each) by Sunday at 8:00 p.m. Here they are:
1. Once news of Khalil’s shooting spreads across the neighborhood, unrest arises: “Sirens wail outside. The news shows three patrol that have been set ablaze at the police precinct...A gas station near the freeway gets looted...My neighborhood is a warzone” (Chapter 9, 136-139). Respond to this development and describe some parallels to current events.
2. How do you think Starr would define family? What about Seven? How do you define it?
Prompt #1
ReplyDeleteStarr's neighborhood is in a terrible state at this point in the book. There is a citywide curfew, and there are tanks rolling down the streets to enforce it. Many businesses are in fear of being broken into during the riots that are happening in the city. Starr is right when she thinks her neighborhood is a war zone. The police are, most times against the people. The town is very chaotic because with the police force busy dealing with the riots, others are free to run around and do what they want. Less attention is being put on the actual crimes, and more is being put on blaming people that want justice. For example, the police saw a reason to stop and search Maverick, even though it was clear that everything was under control. Like in Starr's neighborhood, Hong Kong is in unrest about the new bill pertaining to extradition to mainland China. The protests are becoming increasingly chaotic and violent, and the police are using tear gas to stop some of the violence coming their way from the protesters.
Prompt #2
I think what Starr's thought on family is that it is anyone she is very close too. She is very close to her actual family, but is also close to others. Even though Seven is only her half brother, they love each other just like a normal brother and sister would. Starr protects her family, her friends that she could consider her family too. I think Starr thought of Khalil as part of her family because they protected each other, and loved each other. I think Seven defines family similarly, but I don't think he is as close with Iesha and King as he is with Maverick and Lisa, so he might not feel like they are family. I define family as anyone I would be willing to protect, and anyone willing to protect me. I would protect my actual family, along with some of my close friends, and I know they would do the same for me.
- Katelyn Johnson
Katelyn, I think you made a great point with the riots in Hong Kong. And I really like how you connected the riots to what is happening in Starr’s neighborhood. You used specific details like the police searching Maverick, and the city wide curfew. I also feel like you really care about what’s happening, in Hong Kong, and I think that’s really great. More people should care about what is happening in the world. I also agree with your definition of family, and how Starr would define family. It was interesting to see you connect Kahlil to Starr’s family. You made a great point when you said; “I think Starr thought of Kahlil as part of her family because they protected each other, and loved each other”. Incorporating Kahlil was smart. You also talk about Seven’s relationship with Maverick and Lisa versus his relationship with Iesha and King. That’s something I didn’t do and I think it was really smart to show that he may react differently around different parents. I think you're response is really good, much better than mine, and thought out really well. You have a different perspective from me and I liked seeing your point of view.
DeleteKatelyn,
DeleteI especially like the connection you made with Hong Kong and the protests there. It, too, appears increasingly chaotic. It makes me grateful to live where we live.
I think your response to what has been happening around the world is quite empowering. The fact that they are using these types of weapons, like tear gas, to force people away is just a sad thing. While the police might be busy, there is a possibility to stop all the chaos they just have not done it yet. People always want power and it seems that is what is starting to happen with Hong Kong and China. With this happening, you are very right, crimes are much more frequent and it is harder to catch those who need a large force of police. With your thoughts on Seven, it seems that yes they love each other but also Seven loves his other family, who he tries to protect, sometimes even more than Starr. It might seem he defines family similarly but there is a lot of love put into Kenya and making sure she is okay. For him he has had a messed up childhood so his definition might be different in my opinion.
DeleteRight now, I agree with Starr in thinking her neighborhood is a war zone. Everyone has a curfew that they have to abide by and they have the police and even tanks patrolling the streets. Since the police are busy dealing with the people who want justice, they’re focusing less on everything else. Businesses are being looted, and if they haven’t been, the owners are fearful of it happening. For example, Maverick spent the night at the shop to protect it from possible robbers. It seems as though some crimes are going unnoticed and that all the police care about right now is trying to shutdown the people fighting for justice. Hong Kong and Mainland China have had a dispute about extradition for quite awhile. The streets have been filled with protesters and the police took to using tear gas to fend the protesters off.
ReplyDeleteI think family is a very important thing to Starr. I believe that Starr would define family as the people that she is really close to. Starr thinks of her actual family as family, but also some of her friends. I think she thought of Khalil and Natasha as family, because not only was she there for them, they were there for her as well. They loved each other like brothers and sisters, and protected each other. I think Seven would describe family similarly, but not quite the same way. I feel like he doesn’t really consider his mom and King family, but I think he considers all of his half siblings as his family, especially Starr. Family to me is the people I love and would protect, and who would do the same to me. I consider my biological family family, as well as some of the people on my step-mom’s side, and a few very close friends.
Good observation about Maverick spending the night at his shop to protect it. Your views on family and Katelyn's are similar when it comes to protecting family and how you define family.
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DeleteI like how you focused on the police. They are focusing on the riots in the street rather than the crimes that are going on at the same time. People in Starr’s town are fearful of what could happen to them. Since the police are busy dealing with the riots and protests, they are turning an eye to all the people who are taking advantage of the scenario and stealing and vandalizing. I agree with you with how Starr and Seven would describe family. I think that Starr thinking of Natasha and Kalil as being family made their deaths a lot more personal to her. Their deaths probably felt very close to her heart because she saw them as not just friends, but also as her family.
DeleteStarr's neighbor hood has become a political and mental war zone. The streets are filled with people either trying to contain the chaos, ensuing chaos, or being the ones running from the destruction that explodes around them. The police have gotten to a point where they do not want to look like the ones at fault, in someways they are, yet others they are not. The chaos was caused due to the death of Khalil and the word getting out of the true story behind it all. The gangs on the streets have gone for vengeance against the police force and the police force has gone for "control" in this situation. In the end, the battle is a lost stalemate where nobody really wins, it is just a hellfire to prove a point. The police have gotten to the point where they are trying to get to the bottom of it all, everyone has become a target and little things can go to shit just like Maverick with the cops. Though not much commotion was going on, a little paranoia and seeing the face of the one who started this rebellion, lead to pain for some. One way this relates to our world today is the recognition of police brutality. Right now, in some places world wide, people just because of their sexuality, race, or ethnicity are being unfairly abused by the police force. This has been an issue that tracks back many decades and has affected people worldwide.
ReplyDeleteFamily for Starr is a tough question to answer. Her definition of family is those who stand by her side through thick and thin, whether it is her biological family or her closest of friends. Family for her might not be the people who she will see all the time, but the people she knows she loves deeply and cares for, and them to her as well. For people like Khalil and Natasha, they were considered family to her. For someone like Seven however, family is a little different but similar. Family to Seven are the people he looks out for, and the people that look out for him. Though he might not bond the same with people like Starr, he has people in the world that he looks out for no matter what, and people that have his back. Family is one of those weird questions that personally, I have never liked to answer. To me, I personally have two types of family. Those who are my biological relatives, and those who I trust with my life, those who know how to succeed along side me. Personally, I only have one person I would even really think at all of, if that, from a 2nd kind of family. Thats why I hate group work, no one will have my back, so I learn to live by my own devices. Family is family, it is a word, not a definition. People that most consider family? That is a word that they use to combine lots of feelings into one short space.
I like your observations about people being abused by some police forces, just because who they are. The connection with Mav is also a good one and that scene in particular is really difficult to imagine (and hard to read).
Delete1. After the death of Khalil, Starr’s town has become very dangerous. People are mad, sad, and angry about Khalil‘s death. All of the emotions that people are feeling are mixing together and turning into a big mess that everyone has to deal with. The fact that Starris blaming herself for all of the mess that Khalil‘s death has brought, must make it very hard for her. Including the fact that Starr has to live with two lives, one where she has to try and pretend that everything is fine when she is at school, and then at home where she is worried about her family and her safety. Having that much on your plate at a time, has to be exhausting. The outbreak in Starr’s town Reminds me of the riots in Haiti this past weekend. A journalist was shot and killed. People are very frustrated and mad about the situation. In Haiti stores are also being looted, just like in the book. Police in Haiti also used to guess on the crowds and also shot bullets into the air to break up the crowd. In one article in Haiti it was sad that somebody held up a dead dog that had been dragged through the streets by a rope and yelled, “Here’s Jovenel!” I can only imagine the things similar are also happening in the Starr’s town.
ReplyDelete2. I think that Starr would say that family is whoever you choose it to be. Starr Seems to have had a connection somewhat like siblings with Natasha and Khalil. I think that star would say that anyone who can prove themselves to be family, is family. I think the Seven would describe family much different than Starr would. I think that Seven would describe family as a mess that can’t be fixed, but parts of it you still love. I think that he would describe feeling like that because his mother and father aren’t together, and he doesn’t seem to like his mother very much. “Seven turns his back around. I wouldn’t want to see my momma looking like that either.” (130). I would describe family as a group of people who you can always trust, Who will usually be with you until the end, and at the end, have made a huge impact on your life.
Ada, great connection to Haiti. As I said in my comment on Katelyn's post, I'm feeling very blessed to live where we live. The image of someone yelling "Here's Jovenel!" is really disturbing.
DeleteI think it’s unfortunate that Starr’s neighborhood has become so dangerous and sketchy. When Starr saw the tank rolling down the street it made me feel upset, nobody should look out and see a military tank rolling down their street. It reminded me of clips I’ve seen on the news of tanks going through what used to be neighborhoods in Syria or Iraq. It’s just really sad seeing a neighborhood turned into a warzone. I’ve also seen clips from the riots in Hong Kong. The police end up just attacking the protestors. It’s really unfortunate that in today’s world we can’t protest safely, without fear of being attacked by the people who are supposed to protect us. I think this is one of the main points of The Hate U Give. The people in Starr’s neighborhood are protesting Kahlil’s death and the police are getting aggressive. Her house is in the middle of a war between the police and people who want justice for Kahlil.
ReplyDeleteI think Starr defines family as the people she is related to, who are always there for her. Her uncle is always there for her, and really acted as a father figure while her dad was in jail. And her mom and dad are supporting her in her decision to speak to the police. I think she considers Seven her family, even if he isn’t her full sibling. Whatever happened with Seven’s parents doesn't really matter to Starr. He is her big brother and he supports her. What else is family for? I think that family isn’t so much who I’m related to, but who is there for me. I have cousins and uncles that I don’t know, sure we are related, but I don’t know them. I think my mom, dad and brother are my family, but I would also consider my closest friends my family. They will always support me and I think that is what family is all about.
I really like two things about your comment, Madelyn. The first is that you mention Syria. I'm really disappointed in the US pulling out and leaving the Kurds to fend for themselves. I know it's not the exact point you were making, but I think it's important to keep following that story. I also like the fact that you mention her uncle. He was extremely important to her---and there wasn't much of him in the movie version of the book. That was disappointing to me.
DeleteI like how you talked about how it's dangerous to protest in today's world. You always have to be ready for anything, whether that be tear gas or even shots fired at people or in the air. I like how you mention how the policeman's job is to protect the citizens, but sometimes end up being the ones attacking the people. I think that you described how Starr thinks of family very well. I liked how you talked about how she probably thinks of Seven as her brother, even if they aren't full siblings In the book it is shown that Seven also seems to care about Starr in a Sisterly way when he gets protective over her in the parking lot at prom.
DeletePrompt One
ReplyDeleteStarr's neighborhood has indeed become a chaotic war zone, and all because of Khalil's death. People who realized what was wrong with how he died, started to riot and protest against racism, and stereotypical violence. As they were doing something right the police tried to shut them up by attacking, arresting, and in worst cases kill the ones in their way. Starr's town had tanks driving up and down streets, and police every where so that the town would be "secure", and put the civilians in fear of the ones who were supposed to protect them. Originally the term police brutality was a red light in 1872, when the Chicago Tribune reported on the beating of a civilian under arrest at the Harrison Street Police Station. Many riots around the world end up having the same outcome. While people are standing up for what's right, the police try to get rid of them since they become a "problem" and a "danger to society", and don't focus on solving the actual issues that created those riots.
Prompt Two
Starr would definitely define family as people who are very important to her, and each and one of them can be a best friend to her. She loves her family, and they have a special place in her heart. Her parents support her, and even if they act too strict at times she know they do it for her own good. Seven is a brother she loves and wouldn't trade him out for anything in the world. Even though he isn't her sibling by blood, she does not care and loves him unconditionally. Seven would be torn between the two family's, and to chose love over hatred is hard enough for him. He loves his sister and mother , but his stepdad is a crazy alcoholic who beats his own family. Seven is always welcome in Starr's home and he most definitely loves Starr, and her family no matter the fact they aren't technically related. To Seven I think family means the people he can protect, and the ones who care for him. I personally would define family as the people I can always trust, and rely on. I am very close with my whole family, and all of us know that we wouldn't lie, and take care of each other.
Alena, I like that you did a little research on police brutality. When you say it was a red light, what exactly did you mean? I'd be curious to know.
DeleteGood observation about Seven's stepdad.