Tag: police brutality

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Unfortunately, This Is Our America

On May 5, 2018, the release of “This Is America” by Childish Gambino was at the peak of a desire for gun control, because this was also during a time where innocent people of color were being shot and killed by police with no real motive. Riots, arguments on social medias, and hope for change stood nothing against the government. Even after the fatal killings of dozens of innocent lives, If the government isn’t going to listen to normal civilians, they are sure going to listen to celebrities of higher status. When a person of influence states their position on a topic, this gives people a platform. This song blew up in a matter of minutes. The lyrics were strong, but the music video behind the lyrics was even stronger, portraying the killings of dozens of black men and women.

This song is clearly political, saying repeatedly that the America that we live in will shoot and kill you if they catch “you slipping now”, with the main target being black people. According to a study, black people are more than 10 times more likely than white people to die by gun homicide. This video could be seen as a a call to action, to warn African-Americans to be cautious, and to tell politicians in a unique way that change needs to be made.

Colin Kapernick kneeling during the national anthem.

Childish Gambino (Donald Glover) makes it a point to include in his video criminals, as well as young school children, church choirs, and just regular people to show that gun violence and police brutality does not exclude anyone. His constant dancing is meant as a distraction from what is happening to these innocent people in the background. This song and the video accompanying it are in response to the killings of many individuals, a grave widespread problem affecting our African-American population. It is pretty common to see celebrity responses after a controversial event. For example, Colin Kaepernick responded to oppression by kneeling during the national anthem, saying, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” I agree with the actions Colin decided to take. Even against judgement, he does what he believes is correct. Colin Kaepernick and Donald Glover are similar in that they respond in a healthy and nonviolent way. Violence would only discredit their point and lead to more controversy than what controversies are happening now. Celebrities like these are able to grab the attention of crowds and politicians and force them to see what is happening, and fight for a change.

Most peoples reactions to “This is America” we’re positive. I am on social media A LOT and I really only saw support and awe for this artist. I believe this is the outcome he hoped and expected, with thousands supporting his artistic endeavors. This has influenced others to have a sort of protest of their own to fight against inequality and in what they believe is right, a protest rooted in respect and non-violence. It is safe to say that music reflects politics, down to the president (Donald Trump being in too many rap songs), economy (everyone is always singing something about money), and things along those lines. If more celebrity artists state their position on major political topics, it would spark a widespread realization, and possibly even leading to politicians implementing new laws to help protect the lives of innocent people from racism and gun violence.

Each time you watch, you catch something new !
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Childish Gambino’s This is America: An Analysis

I still remember the first time I watched the music video of This is America. It was sometime last year; I was getting ready for bed and decided, foolishly, to watch this trending video on Youtube. I stayed up an hour later than I wanted to because of how disturbed and uncomfortable I was after watching the video.

Warning: This video contains graphic content

Donald Glover (otherwise known by his stage name Childish Gambino) released the This is America and the accompanying music video early May last year. Known for its political stance on gun violence, police brutality and racism in America, the song debuted at number one on Billboard Hot 100 chart, won four prestigious Grammy awards, and has nearly 520 million Youtube views today. The one-take music video, directed by Japanese-American filmmaker Hiro Murai, generated so much attention that TIME magazine even released an article analyzing the different strands of symbolism found over the short four minutes. 

For the sake of research (and a solid thesis), I decided to experience This is America two different times: 

 1) Listening to This is America on its own while reading the lyrics without the music video

2) Listening to This is America with the music videowhile reading the lyrics (some would call it multitasking)

Upon my experiment, I can wholeheartedly say that the accompanying music video certainly increases the impact of the political message embedded in the song.

SHOTS FIRED: THE PLAY BETWEEN TEXTURES

This is America’s most recognizable feature is arguably the stark textural contrast between different textures of the song. The song opens with inviting “yeah-yeah-yeahs” by the choir, some fun guitar accompaniment, and the catchy use of call-and-response. This cheerful introduction is immediately interrupted by an invasive bass (rooted in Trap music) and Childish Gambino’s “This is America, Don’t catch you slippin’ up…”. The juxtaposition of musical genres provide a jarring, uneasy feeling that perhaps mirror the disjointed American society that we live in today. 

Murai utilizes this discomfort and elevates it on a whole new level: the video begins with a man playing the guitar in a warehouse and Glover dancing to the (deceivingly) joyful song…before he pulls out a gun and shoots the man wearing a head cover and hand cuffs to open the trap section of the song. Perhaps the man is a reflection of those who are wrongfully accused of a crime due to the color of their skin. Perhaps it’s a statement on how easy it is for people to access a gun. Regardless, what a statement. 

DANCING AND VIOLENCE: ENTERTAINMENT AND IGNORANCE

Throughout the music video, Childish Gambino is seen dancing with school children (smiling in a way that sends shivers down your spine) throughout the warehouse as violence and gang activity break out around them. Fires, people running, police cars and horses… you name it. 

These shots send an incredibly powerful strong message about entertainment and how the majority of society approach racism, police brutality and gun violence today. The fact that Childish Gambino and the children are dancing in the midst of violence without a sense of reality is incredibly oblivious, almost as if they are choosing to ignore issues that affect millions of African-Americans everyday. Not only does such visuals draw viewers in, but it further accentuates the song’s political innuendos. 

WAIT, THERE’S MORE: WHAT IS WITH THIS ENDING?

The video ends with Childish Gambino running away from a dark room (with some recognizing it as the mental prison that black people get sent to in Get Out) from a group of authoritative figures. Wide-eyed and scared, Glover is running into an abyss with no light at the end of the tunnel.

You just a black man in this world, You just a barcode, ayy

You just a black man in this world, Drivin’ expensive foreigns, ayy

The declaration of the video to African-Americans is clear: You can, and never will, escape America.