Angie Thomas

“Maya’s boyfriend, Ryan, happens to be the only other black kid in eleventh grade, and everybody expects us to be together. Because…

— Angie Thomas

Literature plays a huge role in examining difficult real-life issues.

— Angie Thomas

“A silver cross pendant hangs from his neck, like he’s saying Jesus endorses what he did. We must believe in a different…

— Angie Thomas

“Don’t let them put words in your mouth. God gave you a brain. You don’t need theirs.”

— Angie Thomas

From my anger, frustration, and hurt, I wrote the short story that would later become 'The Hate U Give.'

— Angie Thomas

“They probably heard me crying. Great. What’s worse than being the Angry Black Girl? The Weak Black Girl.”

— Angie Thomas

“God gave you a brain. You don't need theirs.”

— Angie Thomas

Art is activism.

— Angie Thomas

I often say that I want to write like Tupac rapped. I could listen to his album, and within a few minutes,…

— Angie Thomas

“Ever since, I don’t have to decide which Starr I have to be with him. He likes both. Well, the parts I’ve…

— Angie Thomas

“It's not bravery if you don't feel fear, right? If you're not afraid, then you're not really forcing yourself to do something…

— Angie Thomas

“Even if he was, I knew that boy. Watched him grow up with you. He was more than any bad decision he…

— Angie Thomas

“Momma had told me, “See, she looks asleep,” but when I squeezed her hand, her eyes never opened. Daddy carried me out…

— Angie Thomas

“My heart pounds loudly, but Daddy’s instructions echo in my head: Get a good look at the cop’s face. If you can…

— Angie Thomas

I wanted to have a book that showed there's no one way to sound black. I wanted to tell teens that the…

— Angie Thomas

“Momma thinks coming to Uncle Carlos’s house is normal, but Chris is the kind of normal I really want. The normal where…

— Angie Thomas

I think the more we see more officers holding each other accountable, the more we will see people trust cops in this…

— Angie Thomas

“Spring has decided to go through an identity crisis and get chilly on me.”

— Angie Thomas

“I have to think about that one for a minute. “Everybody’s pissed ’cause One-Fifteen hasn’t been charged,” I say, “but also because…

— Angie Thomas

Writing is a form of activism.

— Angie Thomas

You just have to find your activism, and don't let anyone tell you what that should look like. If you're doing the…

— Angie Thomas

Especially for young POC, when we enter majority-white spaces, we feel the need to assimilate, to blend in, to prove ourselves. I…

— Angie Thomas

I knew there were calls for diversity in children's lit, but you always wonder as a person of color, how diverse is…

— Angie Thomas

“I asked Dr. Davis if Just Us could have a roundtable discussion at Williamson like they do at Garden High. He said…

— Angie Thomas

“empathy is more powerful than sympathy”

— Angie Thomas