"This is America" music video commentary.

[MakeDigitalLove]

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk...cking-new-video-tackles-race-violence-n872126

The award-winning artist and entertainer, whose musical stage name is Childish Gambino, made his "Saturday Night Live" hosting debut this weekend. He also performed his new song, “This Is America” and later released an accompanying music video online.

And that's when social media exploded.

The video is packed with symbolism and satire. The song deals directly with race, gun violence, police brutality and the concept of freedom in a chaotic world.

I personally love provocative stuff in music in general, I don't need it all the time, but there are times when it just comes out and hits at the right time. I think this is one of those times and I know that there are a lot of people who understand the commentary brought in by this video and it's nothing new to them. At the same time the issues need to be constantly brought to light, beaten over the heads of people who don't listen though. Nothing changes if we get complacent.

As a note, I don't expect everyone to watch the video. The article does a good job of highlighting the bigger parts of the video for one to be able to understand the general theme of it without watching it.

 

[eastofeden]

I watched it..twice...

I am still thinking about it. I think he is making ALOT of points and he is truly an artist.

 

[nycguydowntown]

saw it this weekend---the guy is an important artist, went to school in the city and very smart---powerful video----hard to watch at times---find him very sexy too

 

[Cormac135]

Rather dull, looks like he has a nice package though.

 

[MakeDigitalLove]

I watched it..twice...

I am still thinking about it. I think he is making ALOT of points and he is truly an artist.

Yep. I agree.

saw it this weekend---the guy is an important artist, went to school in the city and very smart---powerful video----hard to watch at times---find him very sexy too

I do find him attractive.

 

[eastofeden]

I had to resist reading anyone's comments because I like to make my own observations before I read other people's opinions..I am stubborn that way....even if I am in left field I would rather have my own thoughts

The thing it made me think about is how the Black Community was pitted against each other for so long....from the days of light vs dark..house vs field slaves...and right into the present day.....different groups/same strategy....

If you pay attention..it is obvious. I think Childish Gambino is paying attention...

...and then they chase him for lighting up a joint...but not for murdering other Black People...

...and once again..THAT is the power of an artist...to make you think. Well Done!

 

[MakeDigitalLove]

I had to resist reading anyone's comments because I like to make my own observations before I read other people's opinions..I am stubborn that way....even if I am in left field I would rather have my own thoughts

The thing it made me think about is how the Black Community was pitted against each other for so long....from the days of light vs dark..house vs field slaves...and right into the present day.....different groups/same strategy....

If you pay attention..it is obvious. I think Childish Gambino is paying attention...

...and then they chase him for lighting up a joint...but not for murdering other Black People...

...and once again..THAT is the power of an artist...to make you think. Well Done!

I honestly didn’t think about him smoking weed had something to do with being chased, but that’s a good observation.

All the Jim Crow imagery and referencing is one of the biggest things about the video that sticks with me.

Also I have to say he is such a good dancer. And I know that is a part of the commentary about peoples attention spans and drawing your eyes away from all the awful shit happening, but because he does dance well, it makes it work that much more.

 

[ballcaphair]

Childish Gambino is Donald Glover who has written provocative segments of many popular comedy shows including Community. He also played a role on that show. In an interview several years ago he said he was very visual and much of his writing was inspired by imagery. This is a brilliant and thought provoking work of art. The imagery is stunning. Brilliant.

 

[rareboy]

It is definitely a video that is hitting a lot of bullseye targets.

Excellent video. Provocative message....just wish the actual music grabbed me the same way.

 

[eastofeden]

OK..I have watched this morning's The View as always...and I am glad I responded before I saw it.....

....but the one thing that cracked me up...they mentioned the dancing overshadowing what was happening the background due to Americans being easily distracted....

...and my husband aptly pointed out that he "knew" I was distracted by the dancing trying to pay attention to the background ...mind you we hadn't discussed it at all before that...he watches The View too every day....

...and he was absolutely right. I barely noticed the dancing..I was irritated because it got in the way of the background

BTW...@rareboy..I don't like the actual music too much either.

 

[nycguydowntown]

I like his dancing because it's sorta his own nerdy style lol---I mean it's not typical video dance moves----he went to NYU and is carving out a whole acting music directing career--although he has said this may be his last attempt at music.

 

[ballcaphair]

It is definitely a video that is hitting a lot of bullseye targets.

Excellent video. Provocative message....just wish the actual music grabbed me the same way.

I believe that the music is also intended to be as provocative, distracting, thought provoking, and sensory as everything else in the video. I think it is a breathtakingly brilliant work of art.

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

Rather dull, looks like he has a nice package though.

You couldn't be further from the target audience, I imagine you wouldn't find any appeal beyond his physique-- a perfect metaphor for the fetishism of af american men, a tradition dating back to the colonists.

 

[MakeDigitalLove]

It is definitely a video that is hitting a lot of bullseye targets.

Excellent video. Provocative message....just wish the actual music grabbed me the same way.

I believe that the music is also intended to be as provocative, distracting, thought provoking, and sensory as everything else in the video. I think it is a breathtakingly brilliant work of art.

It definitely steers off a bit from what he normally does, he performed another new song on SNL and it’s nothing like this.

 

[MakeDigitalLove]

WatchMojo did a video on this too and one of the things they pointed out that I don’t think is in the original article is his dancing also mimicks Black Minstrels.

I mean the more you dig into this video, the better it gets.