Author Angie Thomas speaks on ‘HOPE,’ awareness at Oncenter
Angie Thomas, author of novel "The Hate U Give," was inspired by Tupac Shakur’s “Thug Life” tattoo. At the Oncenter Civic Center Crouse Hinds Theater on Tuesday, she shared about her personal acronym “HOPE," and the topics she covers in her writing. Avery Magee | Asst. Photo Editor
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Angie Thomas discovered the power of language at an early age.
She grew up under the influences of books and music, deeply inspired by the words of Tupac Shakur. Through her six novels, she stresses the importance of hope and empathy to uplift future generations.
“People will be surprised to learn that there are things that are happening right here that you have the ability to either speak up and speak out about,” Thomas said. “We have to become more curious about one another and have more empathy for one another.”
Thomas hosted a talk at the Oncenter Civic Center Crouse Hinds Theater on Tuesday, where she aimed to connect with students, teachers, librarians and community members. She highlighted the significance of education and empathy, among other values, in connecting with and learning from one another.
Thomas’ novels aim to amplify voices and stories not often represented in mainstream media. Following the success of her 2017 debut novel, “The Hate U Give,” and its film adaptation, she continued to write more novels inspired by her personal experiences that connected with broader audiences.
While not everybody personally understands the struggles of police brutality and systematic racism, it’s important to be aware of those issues, Thomas said. Through her novels, she aims to tap into the humanity within larger social issues and movements, making the message accessible to many people.
“Everybody understands feeling powerless,” Thomas said. “If you’re focused on that, you can give somebody a mirror, a window where they can see themselves. They can see this situation and relate to the human part of it, not just the headlines of it.”
Audience members felt inspired by the relevance of Thomas’ talk and the issues she addressed. Nicole Shue, an attendee, noted that Thomas pulled the youngest crowd she had seen from Friends Of the Central Library’s author series.
Thomas also noted the relevance of a younger audience, reflecting on how going to talks such as this gives young Black children the chance to connect with an author who speaks to relevant issues for them.
Thomas uses acronyms in not just her writing, but also her daily life. Tupac Shakur’s “Thug Life” tattoo was the acronym that inspired her to write “The Hate U Give,” as it captures the core message of the novel: what society feeds into young people has a way of coming back and affecting us all.
Thomas’ talk was framed around the acronym “HOPE,” which she urged people to grasp. It stands for heart, optimism, perspective and endurance. Thomas stressed how these values shape her outlook and guide her when writing about the topics she covers. She urged listeners to employ these principles in their communities and interactions.
Having optimism in bleak social climates keeps activism alive, she said. She emphasized how shifting perspective leads to more empathy, inclusive thinking and further collaboration among people.
“We have to expand our perspectives of ourselves, but we also must expand our perspectives of others,” Thomas said. “We need to be more curious about others, as opposed to judgmental.”
Thomas interlinked personal anecdotes with larger social issues and calls to action. Nicole Thompson, an attendee who works at Syracuse City School District, was moved by Thomas’ points of bringing the community together through conversation and education throughout her talk.
“A lot of times we can get frustrated with the kids and the life that they’re living, and they bring that to school,” Thompson said. “(Thomas encouraged) us to put a little bit of ourselves in the things that we do.”
Thomas reflected on the fears she faced when first publishing “The Hate U Give” on how it would be received amid the social and political climate of President Donald Trump’s first term. The continued importance of the message over the years encouraged her to keep telling similar stories, she said.
Eight years later, the messages of “The Hate U Give,” “On the Come Up” and her other novels remain relevant to society, specifically to younger generations, Thomas said. Having readers who are open to uncomfortable truths and conversations about social issues drives her writing.
Even as she moves into writing for younger audiences, Thomas maintains her messages of social justice, keeping audiences aware of historical and current events.
“We don’t talk with younger kids enough. We talk at you,” Thomas said. “I want my books to be conversational, and I don’t want to avoid hard topics. I think having books as a form to do that is super important; to have kids aware that these things happen so we don’t repeat them.”
