Starr Carter is constantly switching between two worlds: the poor, mostly black, neighborhood where she lives and the rich, mostly white, prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Now, facing pressures from all sides of the community, Starr must find her voice and stand up for what’s right. THE HATE U GIVE is based on the critically acclaimed New York Times bestseller by Angie Thomas and stars Amandla Stenberg as Starr, with Regina Hall, Russell Hornsby, Issa Rae, KJ Apa, Algee Smith, Sabrina Carpenter, Common and Anthony Mackie.

After watching THE HATE U GIVE, blacklove.com sat down with one of the film’s stars, Russell Hornsby (known most recently for his roles in Netflix’s Seven Seconds and in the Denzel Washington-directed film Fences), to discuss the film, his character, and his message to young people about activism.

blacklove.com had the opportunity to screen THE HATE U GIVE and found the depiction of being Black in America chillingly spot on. As a witness to her friend’s murder, Starr is faced with complex decisions on what to do next. Her family isn’t all on the same page either. As a viewer, you begin to ask yourself tough questions about what you would say to your friend, your mother, or your child if they experienced what Starr has.

THE HATE U GIVE is in theatres everywhere right now.