Amandla Stenberg aka. Starr Carter was a 16-year-old black girl who lived in the poor (mainly black) neighborhood in Garden Heights. Starr attended Williamson Prep, a broadly white school. When a gunshot when off at a party, Starr was driven home by her closest friend since childhood. On the way home, the two were pulled over by an officer. The officer told Khalil to get out of the car. He was a little defiant, wondering why he had been pulled over. When Khalil finally got out of the car, the officer asked him to stay in the spot he put him in.

Khalil poked his head through the driver side window to check on Starr. He reached in to grab his brush when the officer saw him reach in, 3 shots were fired.

This situation became a national tragedy. Starr was the witness, she tried to keep it as secret as she could from anyone she could. Her best friends and boyfriend were unaware of the incident, and her relation to the story. The incident weighs her down. She’s having to deal with her life at Garde Heights, and at Williamson Prep.

Starr agreed to be interviewed on TV and to testify. As she defended Khalil’s aspect she mentioned the gang that ran her neighborhood, the King Lords. The gang reciprocated by threatening her family, which forced Starr and her family to live with her Uncle. Uncle Carlos was another father to Starr while her father, Maverick was in prison for gang activity. When he was released, he left the gang and became the owner of a grocery store in Garden Heights.

After the grand jury failed to charge the white officer, the neighborhood became a place of peaceful protests, and riots. Starr took a very public role, speaking out during the protest. When she was identified, the pressure became stronger on Starr, her friends, and her boyfriend.

The King Lords attempted to destroy their family, and the family store by bombing the place.

In the end, Starr Carter promised to keep Khalil’s remembrance alive and to continue her assistance against injustice.