Hands on the table
At the beginning of the film, we see Maverick telling his kids to put their hands on the table as if they were putting them on the dashboard of a car. He is teaching them what to do when they are pulled over by the police, so they stay safe and don't get shot. The imagery reveals the reality of being black in America; the dangers they face are more threatening. The image of a child playacting a scenario of potential police brutality is an affecting and sobering one, especially so early in the film.
Starr with her hands up
Near the end of the film, Sekani gets ahold of his father's gun and holds it up to shoot King. When the cops arrive and pull their own guns on the young boy, Starr puts up her hands in an act of surrender and slowly walks in front of Sekani, blocking him from the police and causing him to put his own gun down. This act of bravery is the film's most memorable image, an unarmed black woman putting her hands up and putting her body in the line of fire as a way of ending the thoughtless violence.
Starr with Brush
We see Starr pull Hailey's brush from her backpack and pretend to go after her with it. Starr recreates the fear that led to Khalil's death as Hailey falls to the ground, crying. The imagery reveals just how isolated Starr feels and how out of touch her old friend is. Hailey isn't in any danger in this situation, but she's terrified, and Starr is utilizing this fear to prove a point about racial prejudice.
Let it Out
Maverick is in Starr's bedroom as she wakes up from a nightmare about Khalil's death. He tells her to let it out, and she vomits, wails and cries. The imagery shows how deeply she is affected by watching someone die, and the support that her father shows her in the wake of the tragedy.
