Informative Article On Angie Thomas

Angie Thomas: the Voice for Young Black Youth

Angie Thomas is a best selling African-American author, best known for her book ‘The Hate U Give’, which was later adapted into a film in 2018. Her books, including ‘On The Come Up’, and ‘Concrete Rose’, tackle topics like prejudice, racism, and police brutality, as it is a topic close to her heart. She is a strong advocate for the Black Lives Matter movement and has forever changed the YA genre by talking about the daily struggles faced by black youth.

Thomas was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. A town with a black majority and long history of inequality in income, wealth, health and opportunity. From a very early age Thomas was exposed to drug and gun violence. At the age of 6 she witnessed a shootout between two drug dealers in a local park. The next day her mother took her to a library where she gained her love for books, ultimately changing her life. In a recent interview conducted with Angie Thomas, she stated

 “My childhood was a mix of joy and hardship. Growing up in a predominantly Black community in Jackson, Mississippi, I experienced the love and support of my family and friends. However, I also witnessed the challenges and inequalities faced by my community. The racism and discrimination that permeated society were a constant backdrop to my life. Despite these difficulties, I found solace in books and writing, which allowed me to escape into different worlds and find a sense of empowerment” (In general, what was your childhood like? Was it a happy one?). 

As a teenager, Thomas struggled with her mental health due to ongoing bullying, and as a result, was homeschooled by her mother. In her teens she performed as a rapper and even appeared in Right On!, a teen magazine that featured African American celebrities. She later on studied creative writing at Belhaven University and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2011. Angie went on to work as a secretary in a local church. It was at this time she was inspired to write ‘The Hate U Give’, due to the killing of Oscar Grant, a unarmed black man who was fatally shot by a white police officer.   

Works Cited

Hibler, Joan, and William L. Andrews. “Angie Thomas | Biography, Books, The Hate U Give, & Facts.” Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Angie-Thomas. Accessed 17 September 2024.

Hirsch, Afua. “Angie Thomas: the debut novelist who turned racism and police violence into a bestseller.” The Guardian, 26 March 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/mar/26/angie-thomas-the-debut-novelist-who-turned-racism-and-police-violence-into-a-bestseller. Accessed 17 September 2024.

Tim Lewis. “Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give: 'Books play a huge part in resistance.'” The Guardian, 27 January 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/jan/27/angie-thomas-the-hate-u-give-interview-famous-fans-readers. Accessed 17 September 2024.

“In general, what was your childhood like? Was it a happy one?” prompt. Gemini, Google, 12  

            Sept. 2024, https://gemini.google.com/share/7cf6c7bae4ee.