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“Everybody wants to talk about how Khalil died,” I say. “But this isn’t about how Khalil died. It’s about the fact that he lived. His life mattered. Khalil lived!” I look at the cops again. “You hear me? Khalil lived!”
This quotation comes from Starr’s speech in front of the protesters in Chapter Twenty-Four. In this moment of anger and triumph, Starr reminds everyone listening—particularly the police—that a teenage boy was murdered. Throughout the novel, the police and media quickly found reasons why Khalil’s death was inevitable and justified by portraying him as a drug dealer. With this chant, Starr breaks down this narrative. Khalil’s life, by its existence, had unconditional value. This strong stand marks an important moment for Starr’s character development because it is the first time she publicly speaks out without any measures to protect her identity. With Ms. Ofrah’s encouragement, Starr has learned to use her voice as a weapon.
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