Childish Gambino This America Meaning
Image: DONALDGLOVER/YOUTUBE One interpretation of this moment is that the choir could be seen as representing the folks who were gunned down while inside a church during the in Charleston, South Carolina. Their ten faces are clear as day and jovial. Glover strolls in, shoots, and walks away nonchalantly and untouched.? Pay attention to the background.but also pay attention to the dances. As the video progresses, the background activity intensifies.
Childish Gambino This America Meaning
Riots are breaking out and cars are on fire — all while Glover and a group of kids dance. It's a pretty clear metaphor — the dancing, or the cultural contributions of black entertainers, draw cheers from all corners of society while racial violence and injustice continues to be an everyday and oft-ignored aspect of life. Incorporated throughout the video are various moves — everything from viral video moves to Blocboy JB's to the South African Gwara Gwara. These all have different origins but blend together to form something unique, that is very much a part of our American tradition. As unpacked, these dance numbers have multiple interpretations: To some, these moments of joy, drawn from the latest viral dances or videos, provide a brief, enjoyable respite. To others, they might be a way to gain a quick buck or a few followers. Image: Donald glover/youtube The 'dancing' around things like police brutality and gun violence could be seen as a metaphor for how in this country — politicians often dance around these issues.
Additionally, the fact that the dancing is front-and-center provides another lens of interpretation: that this, and similar culture, is all America sees when they see black people. Glover often makes exaggerated facial expressions while dancing in the video, which can perhaps be seen as a subtle nod to the caricatures made during the. Phones are out and recording. Image: DONALDGLOVER/YOUTUBE In the video, a bunch of folks (that appear to be kids) are hanging from the balcony with phones out and face masks on, recording the action below. Whether their phones are pointing to the dancers or the chaos beyond isn't clear, but it's a quick pan that lines up perfectly with Glover rapping the lyrics 'This a celly / That's a tool,' which references two things: the cell phone — — that Stephon Clark was holding before he was killed by police officers in his own backyard; and the many instances cell phones have been used as tools to broadcast police shooting, rioting against, or black people in this country. The white horse. Image: donaldglover/youtube At the end of the video, Glover is seen running from a tunnel of darkness being chased by a variety of what seems to be non-black people, all while Young Thug sings in the background.
Have theorized that Glover is in fact running from the Sunken Place, a concept developed in Jordan Peele's film Get Out. It's worth noting here: Get Out star Daniel Kaluuya introduced Glover's performance of 'This Is America' on Saturday Night Live. One message of 'This Is America' is relatively clear: We've cultivated a culture in which we emphasize the trivial, while pressing life-or-death issues are all around us, unaddressed. Our priorities are messed up, Glover seems to be saying. Repeat views of this masterpiece will, no doubt, reveal more things to unpack and analyze. Watch, do your homework, then watch again — that's just the joy that comes with Glover's work.
UPDATED May 6, 2018, 5:13 p.m. EDT to reflect that Tracy Martin is not featured the music video.
Childish Gambino This Is America Meaning Lyrics
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