This is a masterpiece: Childish Gambino’s commentary shines in “This is America” music video

BY ABBIE TUSCHMAN

Symbolism, startling scenes and stunning visuals are just a few things to look out for in Childish Gambino’s latest music video “This is America,” released May 5.

Donald Glover, also known by his musical stage name Childish Gambino, released the music video for his single “This is America” after performing the song on “Saturday Night Live.” The video became an instant success, racking up over 100 million views on YouTube in just two weeks.

The release of the music video generated quite the buzz on social media as Gambino fans attempted to decipher the many messages that the four-minute video contains.

Gambino referenced such tragedies that have occurred in the nation’s recent past.

As well as alluding to various issues throughout the video, Gambino illustrated the importance placed upon guns in America, the nation’s numbness to police brutality and the contradictory but undeniable presence of racism in a society that idolizes black culture. Scenes featuring Gambino and school children dancing cleverly distracted from the violence and chaos unfolding in the background, a parallel to the catastrophes in America that are frequently swept under the rug.

Gambino referenced such tragedies that have occurred in the nation’s recent past. In one scene, Gambino was tossed a frighteningly realistic replica of an assault rifle and quickly fired shots into a choir of 10 African-Americans. This is speculated by viewers to represent the Charleston church shooting in 2015, in which a white supremacist targeted African-Americans, killing nine and injuring one.

Though one could spend days analyzing every frame of the video, it’s crucial to recognize that the video requires applause for reasons much greater than its careful layering of symbolism and historical references.

Additionally, the video featured 17 seconds of silence accompanying a profile shot of Gambino, showing him forming his hands into a gun and lighting a cigarette. Relevant to the video’s theme of gun violence, the silence may have been a tribute to the 17 lives lost in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.

Though one could spend days analyzing every frame of the video, it’s crucial to recognize that the video requires applause for reasons much greater than its careful layering of symbolism and historical references.

America can only hope that as artists like Gambino continue to redirect the people’s attention to the violence in our streets

Headlines regarding police brutality, racism or gun violence often cause a discussion of the issues for the few days, or even weeks, following an incident that is bound to repeat. But progressive conversations and demands for change quickly fizzle out into silence as new rumors or scandals inevitably take their place in Americans’ minds. By reigniting discussion about the horrors that plague America, Gambino may be simultaneously reigniting the trend of tackling tough issues in the rap and R&B industries.

As of late, popular songs and music videos have shifted their focus to money, girls and drugs rather than continuing to grapple with the issues of love, loss and pain. This insidious change has been reflected in America’s youth, who suffer from a distorted perception of success and skewed values.

America can only hope that as artists like Gambino continue to redirect the people’s attention to the violence in our streets and the blatant contradictions in our society, difficult discussions will ensue and lead to the change that the nation desperately needs.

Photo courtesy of  RapRehab