People always play various roles and have identities at different times, but they

never change their original one. The Hate U Give is a novel based on a real society matter

and written by Angie Thomas. The book shows the whole process of Starr Carter, a

black girl, who witnessed her friend being shot by the police and the change of the black

community that was triggered by this incident. In the book, The Hate U Give, Starr’s

uncle is a policeman and Starr’s father was a gang member. They have a poor

relationship at the beginning because they do not agree with each other's identity. Then

they have conflicts and disputes about each identity, and it makes their relationship get

worse. But in the end, their relationship becomes very strong because they understand

and agree with each other’s identity. Therefore, identity plays a very important role in the

relationship.

Starr’s uncle and father have a poor relationship because they have naturally

opposite identity. Starr’s uncle is a policeman and Starr’s father were a gang member.

They don’t live together, work together, or talk to each other. In The Hate U Give, Starr’s

father and Starr’s uncle argue about the shooting case. Starr’s father says, “A sixteen-

year-old black boy is dead because a white cop killed him. What else could it be?” Starr’s

uncle replies, “I didn’t say it did, but it could explain Brian’s decision if he felt

threatened” (Thomas 46). In the conversation, Starr’s father believes the white cop is

guilty because he doesn’t like cops. Even though he is no longer a gang member, he still

thinks like a gang member. On the other hand, Starr’s uncle is a police officer and the

shooting policeman is his colleague. He doesn’t agree with Starr’s father because he has a

policeman identity. They try to convince each other but they just don’t want to accept

each other’s identity.

 The relationship between Starr’s uncle and father become worse and worse due to

the Starr’s situation. After the shooting case, Starr’s situation becomes very complex

because she is the witness. Starr’s father wants to protect his daughter because he has the

father identity. But he went to prison for three years when Starr was young. He wants to

try his best to recover the lost time he missed with his daughter. In the article, “Ask Mr.

Dad: What children need”, the writer points out safety and love are the first and second

things that children need from a dad. Starr’s father wants to let Starr be safe, so he let

some gang member protect them. However, Starr’s uncle has a different opinion. In The

Hate U Give, Starr’s father says, “Can’t even protect your niece’ cause you scared of

what it’ll look like to your fellow cops if you’re working with gangbangers” (Thomas

278). Starr’s father doesn’t like Starr’s uncle’s identity because he doesn’t like

policemen. As a father and a former gang member, he trusts his identity more. He doesn’t

want the policeman to protect them, because he is a former gang member and Starr

witnessed the police killing. It causes the relationship between Starr’s father and uncle to

become worse.

Starr’s uncle and father finally have a positive relationship after they understand

each other’s identity. Just like in the book, “The Way Forward Is With A Broken Heart”,

“Healing begins where the wound was made” (Alice 217). In the end, Starr’s father and

uncle finally understand each other’s identity. They know they have the same important

identity for Starr. That is Starr’s father. When Starr’s father was in prison for three years,

Starr’s uncle helps Starr’s whole family. He bought clothes, food, and provides shelter for

Starr’s family. He helps Starr’s family a lot and just like another father. They finally
understand each other without the gang member identity or policeman identity. They

have a positive relationship because of the Starr's “father” identity.

In conclusion, the relationship between Starr’s uncle and father have experienced three

significant changes. Their relationship first comes from poor status, then, becomes worse,

and finally becomes positive. Just like how they treat their identity, First, they don’t agree

with each other identity; then they fight against each other’s identity; finally, they

understand each other’s identity. As we can know, identity can cause a positive

relationship. In the future, their positive relationship will continue to influence their

family, people who live in their community, and the community itself.