Iesha Character Analysis in The Hate U Give

Seven, Kenya, and Lyric’s mother, and King’s girlfriend. Seven resents Iesha’s lack of maternal support. She is also a sore spot in Starr’s parents’ relationship, as Maverick cheated on Lisa with her. Though unwilling to stand up to King for much of the novel, Iesha ultimately redeems herself by distracting him while Seven helps his sisters and DeVante escape from the house. King’s subsequent beating sends her to the hospital.

Iesha Character Timeline in The Hate U Give

The timeline below shows where the character Iesha appears in The Hate U Give. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...how King, a major neighborhood drug dealer, has moved in with his girlfriend, Seven’s mother Iesha. Maverick offers to let Seven live with the Carters, but Seven wants to be there... (full context)

King, Iesha, and a group of King Lords suddenly enter from the back of the church. Iesha... (full context)

...it back at King, calling him a demon and screaming for them all to leave. Iesha calls Mrs. Rosalie an “old hag,” and reveals that King offered to pay for the... (full context)

...clothes next to Seven’s bed, and Seven tells her that King moved back in with Iesha and officially kicked him out of the house. Starr tries to comfort Seven, but he... (full context)

...dealing with the fallout of King, who beats her and her sister in addition to Iesha, moving back into her house. Starr knows Kenya won’t open up about that, but tells... (full context)

Dueling Identities and Double Consciousness Theme Icon

...love for them outweighs that. Lisa stayed with Maverick after he cheated on her with Iesha because she decided that the good in their relationship outweighed the bad. She advises Starr... (full context)

...all he did to raise Starr and Seven while Maverick was in prison. Every time Iesha dropped Seven off, often for weeks, he bought clothes and food, and provided shelter. He... (full context)

...the kitchen when a call comes through from the security guard of Carlos’s gated complex: Iesha is at the gate. She did not attend Seven’s graduation, and was not invited to... (full context)

Seven explodes with hurt and rage, telling Iesha he is so ashamed of her that he has never even told his Williamson friends... (full context)

...be sitting with Kenya, whose father wants to kill her. Kenya apologizes on behalf of Iesha, saying she wishes she would leave King. Starr sympathizes, saying Iesha might be too afraid—just... (full context)

...with Kenya, who is clearly distraught. The three get into Seven’s car and speed to Iesha’s house. (full context)

...about what he thinks of it. He does not say anything, however. They arrive at Iesha’s house, which is dilapidated from the outside but “five-star-hotel nice” on the inside. Shoes dangle... (full context)

Kenya leads the group to Iesha’s bedroom, where DeVante is huddled on the floor in pain. Blood is all over the... (full context)

Iesha smirks when Seven asks her for help, and scoffs at his calling her “momma.” Starr... (full context)

As the group rushes out, Starr notices Iesha dancing in King’s face and pushing him down seductively when he tries to stand. The... (full context)

...asks if King kicked him with his boots. Seven notes that he did that to Iesha once, breaking her ribs. The group again hears police telling people to get off the... (full context)

...says she heard her father started the fire. She also tells Starr that King beat Iesha so badly that she is in the hospital, but she will be okay. She says... (full context)