This is America by Childish Gambino Essay Example

Introduction

The banger, "This is America" by Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino is finally here. Played from a variety of music play platforms ranging from iTunes, YouTube to boom play, many have watched it, listened to it and pointed out their criticism. The song has exhibited a variety of symbolism that attracts a lot of criticism. People not only dance to the tune of the beat but can relate to the metaphor pointed out in the song. Childish Gambino attempted to use music to communicate the horrors black community experience in America. The character of the song video is made up of black people, shot consistently throughout the video. Childish Gambino in this song communicates gun violence in the USA and its effects on the black people and their culture in the most significant way possible through music. As the video presently hits 436million views on YouTube, it not only considered as a hit but as a means to create awareness of racism, gun violence, media distraction, and culture.

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In the course of the whole video, symbolism is an aspect deployed throughout. Many critics point out their sentiments on the video from a different perspective, but they all narrow down to racism and gun violence in the United States. For many years, the American Society has been facing struggles to deal with racism. In the video song, it is worth noting that Childish Gambino regularly portrays discrimination that the black culture endures under American existence. In 3.38 to 4.00 minute of the song, we see how Childish Gambino is chased by a group of white people (Glover, 1). The symbolism of the scene reflects the lynch mobs and the tradition of how black Americans have to run away to save their life in an American Society. Immediately after the stage, Childish Gambino exhibits fear in his face and exhaustion, an encounter he would not wish to have once again. Under his fear, listeners and audience gain the significance of the scene through which black people are discriminated to date.

Symbolism in the Video

Furthermore, a presentation of symbolism is vivid in minutes 1: 42 to 1:58 of the song video. In this particular scene, the rapper dances around with a joyful church choir and immediately shoots them down after being handled an assault weapon. The scene represents the Charleston Church massacre in the year 2015, whereby Dylann Roof, shot down black church attendees (Tuner, 1). Dylann Roof deeming himself a white supremacist exhibits the dangers that the black Americans have long gone through under American existence. The audience gets to understand that, black people cannot practice their activities in peace, as their life is in danger any minute, with references pointed out to the 2015 Charleston Church massacre. The rapper then moves to the next scene as if nothing happens to exhibit the extent to which, black Americans lives are neglected and given little or no importance. Affirmative action ought is the only way out.

Racism in America

Additionally, Childish Gambino takes digs at the American media as it plays a pivotal role in distraction. In cases when people are idle, they tend to roam their cell phone devices on hours till they are bored. Even so, people do not take a substantial role in using media to identify crisis that is prevalent in America. They tend to concentrate more on entertainment as opposed to critical issues. In the song, the rapper regularly acts and dances throughout the video, with the audience drawn continuously to this choreographies to an extent they don't even notice death existence in a white horse, people thrown from the top of the warehouse to the ground, a burning car and police controversies (INSYDER, 1). Childish Gambino illustrates the way people often prefer to hide reality and live on media, rather than looking at the real issue at hand and take affirmative action. The audience can learn that media often distract people to an extent they disregard vital matters such as violence at the expense of entertainment. Media distraction has grown to be a priority and overwhelming to the degree that America is growing ignorant and misinformed as the day unfolds.

Moreover, Childish Gambino uses his choreographies, dances, and acts to illustrate the cultural importance amongst the black people. These choreographies are not only trendy, fashionable and entertaining, but exhibit symbolism, or in other words a hidden message. In the video, Childish Gambino dances the Gwara Gwara, a South African dance move amongst different, hip-hop trendy styles. The Gwara Gwara represents possible black slavery under white minority rule in the apartheid system in South Africa, years ago which presents the same concepts of black existence in American society (INSYDER, 1). Considering this, Childish is not adding visuals to the movie to make it only entertaining but to create awareness on the ignored issue. Moreover, the dance can be linked down to representing the black cultural importance. To an essence that, black dance moves should not only be considered trendy and subjected to challenges or signature moves but should be respected and recognized to be of a black community.

Gun Violence and the Charleston Church Massacre

Lastly, I pick the character shot at the beginning of the video to be the main point of reference. I choose this specific scene as it exhibits a combined view of racism and gun violence in America. The character seems to be so peaceful playing his guitar until Gambino shoots him down. The character of the scene is thought to be Trayvon Martins father whose 17-year-old son was shot dead by an American, as a result of an argument and later filed for self-defense. Using a character that looks precisely like Trayvon Martins father, the scene had its significance of depicting the suffering that black families have to endure when they lose their loved ones in shootings. The character further displays the horrors in which black Americans are forced to go through, even without committing any offenses. As the black man continues to play his guitar, the next scene shows his head wrapped in cloth in a way he cannot see. The white fabric covered in his head symbolizes the dangers in which black Americans are not able to see as they are blinded by American actions that may, in turn, seem, to act on their favor. Many at times have the Americans applauded black cultural importance and imposed initiatives to support the black culture. Even so, no affirmative action is taken to reduce the mass killings of black people and racism. Childish Gambino shoots the character in the next scene, which only represents the backlash of American society in upholding black cultural importance and existence. The view suggests that even if, initiatives are put in place to support the lives of black people, killings will continue to happen and it's only for black people to save themselves.

Furthermore, the gun that kills, the character is put on a red cloth. Red is a color associated with prestige as they are laid out for distinguished guests in events such as Met Gala. In this setting, the gun is given more importance and influence than the life of the black man. It is worth noting that the weapon is wrapped in the red cloth with caution and safeguarded while the black man is dragged away very quickly. The scene represents how black Americans are killed and dragged away before any evidence can be pointed out to such killings.

Additionally, Americans prioritize their image over the death of black Americans, as they will do anything possible to hide the awareness and death of black Americans, and protect their public image. As Childish Gambino continues dancing in the next scene, people forget about the end of the black man and their attention is drawn to the rapper choreographies. People no longer remember of the incidence as media has proven to be a distractive tool. Childish Gambino in his lyrics says, "this is a celly (ha) that a tool (yeah)"makes references to Stephon Clark a black person shot by police who mistook a cell phone for a gun (Mamo,1).

Conclusion

In conclusion, Childish Gambino song "This is America" addresses gun violence and racism that black Americans are subjected to under American existence. The video portrays hidden messages in symbolism that explain the daily horrors black Americans have to undergo and the effect of media in creating a distraction against this critical issues. Donald Glover aims to create awareness of this issue entertainingly through music. It is considered a revolutionary song, as an artist such as Falz has used the same concept and video set to communicate superstition and corruption in Nigeria.

Works Cited

Glover, Donald. Childish Gambino-This is America (Official Video). Youtube. 2018. 11 November 2018. <https://youtu.be/VYOjWnS4cMY>.

INSYDER. Hidden Meanings Behind Childish Gambino's 'This Is America' Video Explained. 9 May 2018. 29 November 2018. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_LIP7qguYw>.

Mamo, Heran. Here Are The Lyrics To Childish Gambino's This Is America. 2018. 29 November 2018. <https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/lyrics/8459530/childish-gambino-this-is-america>.

Tuner, Rob. CHILDISH GAMBINO'S THIS IS AMERICA: AN ANALYSIS. 9 May 2018. 29 November 2018. <https://www.creativereview.co.uk/childish-gambinos-this-is-america-an-analysis/>.