The Hate U Give: Finding Your Activism and Turning the Political into the Personal.”

In this talk, Angie Thomas traces the development of her captivating debut, The Hate U Give—and in so doing, speaks to the heart of race, activism, and social change in America today. She explains why young black people need to see themselves in fiction—especially as they are forced to see themselves, traumatically and routinely, as the victims of discrimination, poverty, and police brutality. She demonstrates why we need more compelling depictions of black girls in art, often lost in discussions of black youth in general. She argues for writing that can turn the merely political into the deeply personal: a way to inspire action and speaking truth to power. And she makes audiences see, and feel, why empathy is more powerful than sympathy—and when done right, that fiction can help us find our voice, or lend it to others. Ultimately, Angie Thomas is the young, outspoken writer ready to hit three truths home: that life fuels art, art mirrors life, and books can change lives.