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'''Angie Thomas''' (born September 20, 1988)<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.literaturfestival.com/archive/participants/authors/2017-en/angie-thomas|title=Angie Thomas </nowiki> – Biography|date=2017|work=internationales literaturfestival berlin|access-date=2018-01-09}}</ref> is an American young adult author, best known for writing '']'' (2017). Her second young adult novel, '']'', was released on February 25, 2019. '''Angie Thomas''' (born September 20, 1988)<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.literaturfestival.com/archive/participants/authors/2017-en/angie-thomas|title=Angie Thomas </nowiki> – Biography|date=2017|work=internationales literaturfestival berlin|access-date=2018-01-09}}</ref> is an American young adult author, best known for writing '']'' (2017). Her second young adult novel, '']'', was released on February 25, 2019.


== Early life ==
Lebron James
Angie Thomas was born and raised in ],<ref name="philyaw"/> where she still resides.


Thomas was subjected to multiple instances of gun violence at a young age. She grew up near the home of assassinated civil rights activist ], stating that her mother heard the gunshot that killed him.<ref name="philyaw"/> When she was six years old, Thomas witnessed a shootout.
James was born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio, to Gloria Marie James, who was 16 at the time of his birth.: 22  His father, Anthony McClelland, has an extensive criminal record and was not involved in his life. When James was growing up, life was often a struggle for the family, as they moved from apartment to apartment in the seedier neighborhoods of Akron while Gloria struggled to find steady work. Realizing that her son would be better off in a more stable family environment, Gloria allowed him to move in with the family of Frank Walker, a local youth football coach who introduced James to basketball when he was nine years old.: 23 


In an interview with '']'', she recounted how her mother took her to the library the following day to show her that "there was more to the world than what saw that day". This inspired her to take up writing.<ref name="hirsch"/>
James began playing organized basketball in the fifth grade. He later played Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball for the Northeast Ohio Shooting Stars. The team enjoyed success on a local and national level, led by James and his friends Sian Cotton, Dru Joyce III, and Willie McGee.: 24  The group dubbed themselves the "Fab Four" and promised each other that they would attend high school together.: 27  In a move that stirred local controversy, they chose to attend St. Vincent–St. Mary High School, a private Catholic school with predominantly white students.

In her adolescence, Thomas shared her skills as a rapper, although her career in music was short-lived. She was, however, the subject of an article in '']'' magazine.<ref name="keane"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://angiethomas.com/faq|title=FAQ|date=2016-04-28|website=Angie Thomas|language=en|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref> Thomas went on to obtain a ]<ref name="bookaward"/> from ].<ref name="mesure"/> She was the first black ] to graduate from her creative writing course.<ref name="mesure"/>


== Career == == Career ==
Thomas' initial intention was to write fantasy and middle grade novels; however, she was worried that her stories would not matter. While querying her first manuscript, she began another that would soon turn out to be her first novel, '']''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://acthomaswrites.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-post-no-seriously-post.html|title=The Post. No, seriously, THE Post ~ Angie's Writing Adventures|date=2019-02-07|access-date=2020-02-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207055944/http://acthomaswrites.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-post-no-seriously-post.html|archive-date=2019-02-07}}</ref> While she was a college student, one of her professors suggested that her experiences were unique and that her writing could give a voice to those who had been silenced and whose stories had not been told.<ref name="philyaw" /> During this time, Thomas also heard about the ] on the news.<ref name="hirsch" /> This story, compounded by the deaths of ], ], ], and ], was a major influence on the novel.<ref name="hirsch" />
In November 1979, Reagan announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 1980 presidential election. He won the nomination and the election, defeating incumbent Democratic president Jimmy Carter. At 69 years, 349 days of age at the time of his first inauguration, Reagan was the oldest person to assume the U.S. presidency. Reagan ran for reelection in the 1984 presidential election, in which he was opposed by the Democratic nominee Walter Mondale, who had previously served as vice president under Carter. Reagan defeated him in an electoral landslide, winning the most electoral votes of any U.S. president: 525 (97.6% of the 538 votes in the Electoral College). It was the second-most lopsided presidential election in modern U.S. history.[5


Thomas cites ] as inspiration for her writing. She has felt a wide range of emotions when listening to his music, and wanted to achieve a similar effect as a writer, saying, "I want to make you think at times; I want to make you laugh at times; I want to make you cry at times – so he was an influence in that way." She has explained that the title ''The Hate U Give'' was inspired by Tupac's THUG LIFE tattoo, which was supposedly an acronym for "The Hate U Give Little Infants Fucks Everybody." Thomas understands that to mean, "that what society feeds into youth has a way of coming back and affecting us all."<ref name="npr">{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2017/02/26/517305270/the-hate-u-give-explores-racism-and-police-violence|title='The Hate U Give' Explores Racism And Police Violence|work=NPR.org|date= 2017-02-26|access-date=2017-11-16|language=en}}</ref>
Jeffrey Edward Epstein (/ˈɛpstiːn/ EP-steen; January 20, 1953 – August 10, 2019) was an American financier and convicted sex offender. Epstein, who was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City, began his professional life by teaching at a private school in Manhattan despite lacking a college degree. After his dismissal from the school he entered the banking and finance sector, working at Bear Stearns in various roles; he eventually started his own firm. Epstein developed an elite social circle and procured many women and children; he and some of his associates then sexually abused them.


In an interview with '']'', Thomas stated that she aims to "show truth and tear down stereotypes" in her writing, and further says that it is important for the white community to listen to the grievances of the ] movement. After its publication, ''The Hate U Give'' was adapted into a ] by ], starring ].<ref name="mesure" /><ref name="keane" />
In 2005, police in Palm Beach, Florida, began investigating Epstein after a parent complained that he had sexually abused her 14-year-old daughter. Epstein pleaded guilty and was convicted in 2008 by a Florida state court of procuring a child for prostitution and of soliciting a prostitute. He served almost 13 months in custody, but with extensive work release. He was convicted of only these two crimes as part of a controversial plea deal; federal officials had identified 36 girls, some as young as 14 years old, whom Epstein had allegedly sexually abused.


== Activism ==
Epstein was arrested again on July 6, 2019, on federal charges for the sex trafficking of minors in Florida and New York. He died in his jail cell on August 10, 2019. The medical examiner ruled the death a suicide. Epstein's lawyers have disputed the ruling, and there has been significant public skepticism about the true cause of his death, resulting in numerous conspiracy theories. Since his death precluded the possibility of pursuing criminal charges, a judge dismissed all criminal charges on August 29, 2019. Epstein had a decades-long association with Ghislaine Maxwell, who faces persistent allegations of procuring and sexually trafficking underage girls for Epstein, which led to her arrest by the FBI on July 2, 2020. Epstein also maintained long-term relationships with various high-profile individuals, including Donald Trump, Leslie Wexner, Bill Clinton, Alan Dershowitz, and Prince Andrew, Duke of York.
In an interview with '']'', Thomas gives insight on her role as an activist: "I've always seen writing as a form of activism. If nothing else, books give us a glimpse into lives that we may not have known about before; they can promote empathy. There is the movement Black Lives Matter and the organization Black Lives Matter, and I respect what both are doing. I know is an 'issue' book, but I didn't necessarily want it to be that way... I wanted to make something that is so political seem personal. While I wanted Khalil to represent these young men who lose their lives and are quickly labeled thugs, I wanted to be its own thing. I didn't want to disrespect anyone's family, anyone's memory."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Q & A with Angie Thomas |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/72805-q-a-with-angie-thomas.html|website=www.publishersweekly.com|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref>


== Works == == Works ==
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Revision as of 06:40, 16 November 2021

American author (born 1988)
Angie Thomas
Thomas in 2019Thomas in 2019
Born (1988-09-20) September 20, 1988 (age 36)
Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.
OccupationWriter
LanguageEnglish
Alma materBelhaven University (BFA)
GenreYoung Adult Fiction, Middle Grade
Notable worksThe Hate U Give (2017)
On the Come Up (2019)
Website
www.angiethomas.com

Angie Thomas (born September 20, 1988) is an American young adult author, best known for writing The Hate U Give (2017). Her second young adult novel, On the Come Up, was released on February 25, 2019.

Early life

Angie Thomas was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, where she still resides.

Thomas was subjected to multiple instances of gun violence at a young age. She grew up near the home of assassinated civil rights activist Medgar Evers, stating that her mother heard the gunshot that killed him. When she was six years old, Thomas witnessed a shootout.

In an interview with The Guardian, she recounted how her mother took her to the library the following day to show her that "there was more to the world than what saw that day". This inspired her to take up writing.

In her adolescence, Thomas shared her skills as a rapper, although her career in music was short-lived. She was, however, the subject of an article in Right On! magazine. Thomas went on to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Belhaven University. She was the first black teenager to graduate from her creative writing course.

Career

Thomas' initial intention was to write fantasy and middle grade novels; however, she was worried that her stories would not matter. While querying her first manuscript, she began another that would soon turn out to be her first novel, The Hate U Give. While she was a college student, one of her professors suggested that her experiences were unique and that her writing could give a voice to those who had been silenced and whose stories had not been told. During this time, Thomas also heard about the shooting of Oscar Grant on the news. This story, compounded by the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, and Sandra Bland, was a major influence on the novel.

Thomas cites Tupac Shakur as inspiration for her writing. She has felt a wide range of emotions when listening to his music, and wanted to achieve a similar effect as a writer, saying, "I want to make you think at times; I want to make you laugh at times; I want to make you cry at times – so he was an influence in that way." She has explained that the title The Hate U Give was inspired by Tupac's THUG LIFE tattoo, which was supposedly an acronym for "The Hate U Give Little Infants Fucks Everybody." Thomas understands that to mean, "that what society feeds into youth has a way of coming back and affecting us all."

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Thomas stated that she aims to "show truth and tear down stereotypes" in her writing, and further says that it is important for the white community to listen to the grievances of the Black Lives Matter movement. After its publication, The Hate U Give was adapted into a 2018 film of the same name by Fox 2000, starring Amandla Stenberg.

Activism

In an interview with Publishers Weekly, Thomas gives insight on her role as an activist: "I've always seen writing as a form of activism. If nothing else, books give us a glimpse into lives that we may not have known about before; they can promote empathy. There is the movement Black Lives Matter and the organization Black Lives Matter, and I respect what both are doing. I know is an 'issue' book, but I didn't necessarily want it to be that way... I wanted to make something that is so political seem personal. While I wanted Khalil to represent these young men who lose their lives and are quickly labeled thugs, I wanted to be its own thing. I didn't want to disrespect anyone's family, anyone's memory."

Works

The Hate U Give (2017)

The Hate U Give, originally written as a short story, debuted at number one on the New York Times Best Seller list for young adult hardcover books within the first week of its release in 2017. The Hate U Give was written, as Thomas says, to bring light to the controversial issue of police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement. The book's plot follows a teenage girl, Starr Carter, and how her life is impacted by the death of her friend, Khalil, an unarmed black teen shot by a white police officer. The Hate U Give deals with the effect of police brutality on the communities of those around the victim.

In 2018, the Katy Independent School District in Katy, Texas, removed the book from its shelves after complaints over profanity, and a South Carolina police union requested the book's removal from a school's summer reading list, because of what the union considered "almost an indoctrination of distrust of police."

On the Come Up (2019)

Thomas' second book On the Come Up was released in February 2019. Thomas wrote the book so she could discuss the costs tolled on minorities and women when they do speak-up. The book tells the story of a teen rapper who becomes a viral sensation and the way that this distorts and changes who she is. It takes place in the same fictional universe as The Hate U Give.

The book was a New York Times bestseller.

Concrete Rose (2021)

Concrete Rose is a prequel to The Hate U Give and was released on January 12, 2021, in the US and the UK. The book tells the story of Starr's father Maverick Carter.

Blackout (2021)

Thomas wrote a young adult novel Blackout, set to release in June 2021, which she co-authored with Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon. The book follows six interlinked stories about Black teen love during a power outage in New York City.

Accolades

Angie Thomas has received several major awards for her work, including:

References

  1. https://angiethomas.com/
  2. "Angie Thomas [ USA ] – Biography". internationales literaturfestival berlin. 2017. Retrieved 2018-01-09.
  3. ^ Philyaw, Deesha (2017-03-14). "One-on-One with 'The Hate U Give' Novelist Angie Thomas". Ebony. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  4. ^ Hirsch, Afua (2017-03-26). "Angie Thomas: the debut novelist who turned racism and police violence into a bestseller". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
  5. ^ Keane, Erin (2017-03-04). "'The Hate U Give': Angie Thomas' sensational debut novel should be required reading for clueless white people". Salon. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
  6. "FAQ". Angie Thomas. 2016-04-28. Retrieved 2020-02-05.
  7. "The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas, 2017 National Book Award Longlist, Young People's Literature". nationalbook.org. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  8. ^ Mesure, Susie (2017-04-11). "New YA sensation Angie Thomas: 'Publishing did something pretty terrible. They made the assumption that black kids don't read'". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
  9. "The Post. No, seriously, THE Post ~ Angie's Writing Adventures". 2019-02-07. Archived from the original on 2019-02-07. Retrieved 2020-02-05.
  10. "'The Hate U Give' Explores Racism And Police Violence". NPR.org. 2017-02-26. Retrieved 2017-11-16.
  11. "Q & A with Angie Thomas". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2020-02-05.
  12. Locke, Kaitlyn (2017-12-02). "'The Hate U Give' pulled from Texas school district's shelves". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
  13. Flood, Alison (2018-07-03). "South Carolina police object to high-school reading list". The Guardian. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
  14. Arreola, Cristina (2018-10-19). "'The Hate U Give' Started A Conversation. Angie Thomas Hopes It Continues With Book Two". Bustle. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
  15. "Young Adult Hardcover Books - Best Sellers - April 7, 2019 - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
  16. "Angie Thomas' New Prequel to 'The Hate U Give' Challenges the Cult of Masculinity". Time. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  17. Reich, Hannah (March 9, 2021). "Writing Black Lives Matter: Maxine Beneba Clarke and Angie Thomas on their latest books for children and young people". ABC News. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  18. "We Need Diverse Books Announces the winners of the 2016 WNDB Walter Grants". We Need Diverse Books. 2016-12-05. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
  19. "2018 Morris Award". Young Adult Library Services Association. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
  20. "Michael L. Printz Winners and Honor Books". Young Adult Library Services Association. 15 March 2007. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
  21. "A Great Day for CSK!". CSK Blog. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
  22. "Geraldine McCaughrean scoops second CILIP Carnegie Medal 30 years after first win and champions triumph of 'literary' fiction". The CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Awards. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
  23. "Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2018". Waterstones. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
  24. "Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis für Roman über das Aufwachsen in der DDR". Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk. Retrieved 2019-03-14.

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