In the Middle (2018-2019 v2)

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Teachers views REVIEW: The Hate T.H.U.G. UGive BY I SABEL L A GAL OFRE

On October 24, the faculty and staff had the opportunity to see the film The Hate U Give. Mr. Fallik, a member of the CHANGE committee, organized the teachers to come together to go watch the film and talk about it afterwards. This movie is based on a book about young black girl, Starr, who goes to a rich private school but lives in a poor neighborhood. To fit in, she switches her personality. She witnesses the shooting of childhood friend in the hands of a police officer and, later, fights to get her voice to be heard. Mr. Fallik, along with the CHANGE committee, decided to organize the trip to the movies because many of the teachers had read the book, and the trailer looked like it applied to MCDS.

and when she went to school she had to kind of put on a different kind of personality because she wanted to fit into both of the communities?, agreed Mrs. Davis.

?The most impactful part of the movie was seeing Starr switch personalities when she is at home or with her friends from her neighborhood versus being with her friends from school and at school she is two very different people," said 9th grade teacher Mr. D?Angelo. "She has to do that because of the expectations of the people around her. She can?t just be her self, so watching her two worlds collide was really impactful."

In almost all private schools in North America, people face the same issue regarding race. This movie helped the teachers at Miami Country Day School better Mrs. Davis, a 4th-grade teacher, understand the issues that kids who also is part of the CHANGE face and how to make the school committee at school decided to go better so that watch the movie " I n the USA we have a lot those problems because in the don?t happen. CHANGE

of issues with r ace that we committee they have j ust not dealt with, really want to and we are not on another start making our planet, so the things that community more are happening in our united in our approach to racial countr y are also happening issues at our in our campus." school. So she thought that this was an excellent opportunity to connect with everyone. ?I have seen a million of issues with race at our school," said MS Guidance Counselor Mrs. Byrne. "In the USA we have a lot of issues with race that we have just not dealt with, and we are not on another planet, so the things that are happening in our country are also happening in our campus.? Most of the teachers that went to watch this movie were very impacted and agreed that Starr had to switch personalities to be able to fit in at school and in her neighborhood. ?I think it was sort of sad that like Starr was like in two different communities, she had to switch her personalities, so when she was at her home she was one person

After watching the movie, the teachers when to dinner and had a discussion. about the movie and racial tensions at - M r s. Byr ne MCDS. Ms. Byrne focused on offensive language. She noticed that ?there were no teachers or administrators represented in the movie." She said, "We also talked about the different characters, the boyfriend who was trying to understand what it meant coming from a privileged class. In general, it was a very robust conversation.? Mr. Fallik tried to keep the discussions on the movie and how it made them feel about our own school. ?Thanks to you, Mr. Fallik, for arranging the details for all of us to successfully see and have a conversation about the movie and the issues it so clearly raises and expresses?, said Ms. Shank.

BY I SAAC BROWN

For some viewers, George Tillman?s recent movie The Hate U Give (T.H.U.G.) is hard to swallow -- there?s the drama, the no-compromise stance it takes on civil rights, and how it highlights instances that some of us have seen, heard, and dealt with. A faithful book adaptation, the film casts Amandla Stenberg as Starr Carter. The audience goes through a variety of emotions with her: sorrow, guilt, happiness, and pressure. Pressure is a key theme of T.H.U.G., and, importantly, oppression.

characters -- in particular, the Carter family. As the plot progressed, you could see their personalities shine through, each one representing a different part of black America. Seven and Starr T.H.U.G. can be seen as a fresh represent the teenage, developing take on the black experience, or an black American - nervous about eye-opener for the rest of their image, and beginning to feel America. But regardless of one?s the image that society has laid out own race or ethnicity, it is easy to for them. Eight-year old Sekani is see how blacks in predominantly the child - innocent, and loving to white his family. He is environments " She blends into the crowd, the next generation have to becomes invisible, 'whiter.' and already sees assimilate into This is a common problem hate and injustice society in order around him. He minor ity youth like her to feel accepted. has to deal with It is easy to see face." these issues, more how hate can - I saac Brown so than wealthier spread quickly children in affluent throughout a neighborhoods. Nonetheless, community, and how other Sekani?s innocence is as pure as a communities can just stand back cinnamon roll. His interactions and watch without involvement. with his siblings show how the purest joy that they can find is Without spoiling the plot, what I with their kin. Seven and Starr are enjoyed most about T.H.U.G. only truly happy and bright were the interactions between the around their family -- not around their school or their neighborhood. This makes their moments together all the more meaningful, and the bond that they share resonates with viewers more than any otherr.

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