San Jacinto College students have three opportunities to view a free screening of the movie “The Hate U Give,” Feb. 26-27, when the North, South, and Central Campuses wrap up their tributes to Black History Month.  

Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, the movie plot involves the police shooting of an unarmed black teen and the fall out following the incident. After the shooting, the main character, Starr Carter, is pressured to react to the incident.

On the South Campus, Sociology Professor Tonja Conerly will lead a discussion about the societal issues highlighted in the film including race, injustice, and police brutality; themes she addresses in her courses.

“It deals with crime. It deals with interracial marriage. It deals with social movements,” she added.

In addition to the screening and the discussion, the South Campus will raffle off copies of the best-selling book.

Meanwhile, Conerly said she hopes the film’s message resonates with the segments of the San Jac community who have little experience with diversity. Some of her students, she noted, have never left Clear Lake, Friendswood, or Pearland and in turn, have trouble relating to people of different racial, ethnic, or cultural backgrounds.  

“… It’s understandable, and it’s not a negative,” Conerly said but stressed the benefit of students venturing outside of their social bubbles for exposure to new experiences.  

“The Hate U Give” will be shown at 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 26 in Room 152 of the Academic Wing-North (S7) on the South Campus. The North Campus screening takes place on the same day at 5:30 p.m. in Room 103 of the Fine Arts Center (N1). Central Campus will show the film on Feb. 27 at 11 a.m. in Lounge A of the Student Center (C14).