Angie Thomas

 Numerous writers of diverse backgrounds, particularly those with black ethnicity, craft narratives that reflect their encounters with racism, privilege, police brutality, and other distressing incidents they have endured. Angie Thomas, a relatively recent addition to the literary world, has authored stories that draw inspiration from her own life and the challenges she has faced as a young black woman in contemporary society.

Angie's Past 

    Angie Thomas was born in 1988 in Jackson, Mississippi. Raised in a financially disadvantage African American community, she encountered the harsh reality of gun violence during her early years. Thomas developed a keen interest in hip-hop as a means of self-expression and actively participated in rap performances during teenage years.

    Eventually, she pursued her passion for writing by obtaining a bachelor's degree in creative writing from Belhaven University in Jackson. During Angie's younger years, she believed that shootings were an inherent aspect of life. 

    At the age of six, Angie found herself in a neighborhood park where a group of drug dealers engaged in a shoot-out. Tragically, a fellow student from her elementary school lost their life in a drive-by incident. It wasn't until she matured that she realized that it was not normal.

    Books played a significant role in her journey. Her mother always encouraged her to read, to discover that there was a broader world out there. During the time she was a young adult she found a lack of books that resonated with her.

However, hip-hop provided Angie with a sense of reflection. Through this genre, she became aware of social issues and the need for change, with artists like Tupac and Nas serving as catalysts for her awakening. Angie was inspired by the raw and unfiltered nature of rap, she aspired to write a book that mirrored the style of a rapper. Angie didn't want to hold back or shy away from expressing herself. Angie didn't want to hold back or shy away from expressing herself. Angie aims to tell stories with the same authenticity and impact as Nas's music. 

THE HATE U GIVE

Debuted as number one on the The New York Times bestsellers list which launched her international fame. Thomas addresses sensitive and current topics like racism, privilege, and police violence in this novel. 

THE HATE U GIVE originated from a short story that Thomas wrote as a college student in 2009 after the tragic killing of Oscar Grant. Grant an unarmed 22-year-old African American, was fatally shot in the back by a white police officer at an Oakland, California Bay Area Rapid Transit platform. As the media continued to report on the killings of unarmed Black men and boys, such as Mike Brown, Eric Garner, and Tamir Rice in 2014, Thomas felt compelled to revisit and expand her story while working as a secretary for a bishop.                                                                              Thomas submitted the novel to the nonprofit organization We Need Diverse Books, which honored her with one of its five inaugural Walter Dean Myers grants in 2015. The manuscript then sparked a bidding war among 13 publishing houses, ultimately being acquired by HarperCollins.                                                                                         In 2017, THE HATE U GIVE was released to critical and popular acclaim, receiving numerous awards, including the 2017 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for fiction and being named a Coretta Scott King Honor Book in 2018. A film adaptation of the novel was also well-received upon its release in 2018. 

The book centers around Starr Carter, a 16-year-old African American girl who resides in a disadvantaged neighborhood but attends a prestigious private school in a predominantly white suburb. Each day, Starr engaged in "code-switching," altering her speech, behavior, and expression to fit in or make others more comfortable. 

The disparity between her home life and her school persona widens when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her friend Khalil by a white police officer. Later, she discovers that Khalil is unarmed but possibly involved in drug dealing. The remainder of the story follows Starr as she grapples with shock, grief, and betrayal, ultimately finding strength and empowerment. While Thomas aimed for the book to have broad appeal, she also sought authenticity. Consequently, THE HATE U GIVE does not shy away from using provocative language or featuring characters involved in drug dealing and gang activities. 

On the Come-Up

Bri, a sixteen-year-old aspiring rapper, dreams of becoming one of the greatest in the industry or at least winning her first battle. Despite being the daughter of an underground hip-hop legend who passed away before reaching stardom, Bri faces the challenge of filling his shoes. However, she struggles to rise in the music scene while being labeled a troublemaker at school and dealing with an empty fridge at home due to her mother losing her job. Pouring her emotions into her first song, it unexpectedly goes viral for all the wrong reasons. As the media portrays Bri as a threat rather than a talented artist, she becomes entangled in controversy. Wit
h an impending eviction notice looming over her family, Bri is determined not only to succeed but to survive. Even if it means conforming to the negative image the public has painted of her.

 "On the Come Up" is a powerful and heartfelt tribute to hip hop, written by one of the most influential literary voices of this generation. It tells the story of pursuing your dreams against all odds, especially for young black individuals, where freedom of speech comes at a cost. 

The novel On the Come Up quickly gained widespread acclaim and recognition for its powerful storytelling and authentic portrayal of the struggles and triumphs of a young aspiring rapper.

The book's success was further solidified when it became a New York Times bestseller, a significant achievement in the literary world.

The Horn Book Magazine and Kirkus Reviews, two highly respected publications in the literary community, both praised On the Come Up as one of the finest young adult novels of 2019. 

Booklist, a leading book review publication, also recognized the excellence of On the Come Up by including it on their prestigious "Top 10 Arts Books for Youth" list for the year. This honor further solidified the novel's reputation as a standout work in the young adult literary landscape. 

(1) Britannica "Angie Thomas" https://www.britannica.com/biography/Angie-Thomas

(2) Library of Congress Blogs https://blogs.loc.gov/families/2023/08/lit-bits-respecting-young-people-with-ya-author-angie-thomas/

(3) https://angiethomas.com/on-the-come-up/