Every Reason Why "This Is America" Is So Important

Don't catch you slippin' (This is for the LA Rotational Fellowship)

During the last week, Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, set the social media world on fire with his music video for his new song, "This Is America." With its multi-layered, symbolism laced visuals and not-so-deep, yet incredibly meaningful lyrics, there is so much to unpack and understand.

RCA / Via Youtube

Childish Gambino and Hiro Murai, the director behind the music video, FX's TV show, "Atlanta," and a few episodes of HBO's "Barry" did not slack with their attention to detail. Outside of what is superficially seen in the video, there was so much offered for us to understand. Fans quickly took to the net to uncover everything the visuals provided. And believe me, there was so much find.

1. You might have noticed the white horse in the background at some point in the video. Little did you know that one of the Four Horseman, Death, is the one riding it through the background. Also, notice the cop car trailing behind him.

Karen Civil @KarenCivil

“And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him.” -Revelation 6:8 #ThisIsAmerica https://t.co/E0IetLs56Z

12:39 AM - 07 May 2018

2. Gambino's outfit was such a simple detail, yet spoke miles once people discovered that it traced back to Confederate Army uniforms

Metro boolin @boolin_metro

Can we talk about how @donaldglover is wearing confederate army pants #thisisamerica #donaldglover #ChildishGambino

01:01 PM - 07 May 2018

3. Thomas D. Rice's Jim Crow is referenced very early in the music video through the stance Gambino takes prior to shooting the hooded guitarist.

oliveandalmond @oliveandalmond

@claudiag0292 He is playing the role of the Jim Crow Minstrel, referencing rap artists of today. Look at how he stands when he shoots the guitarist, the crazy eyes, untrustworthy smile, down to the yellow shoes on his feet. GENIUS. #ThisIsAmerica #ChildishGambino https://t.co/hAOrZ8lbWN

06:08 PM - 06 May 2018

4. There is a very clear reference to the 2015 Charleston Church Massacre.

Kanisha J @KaniJJackson

This scene reenacts Charleston shooting. Black people praising Lord killed for no reason. Look at the background, you see people running towards the area and "rioting" for change and cops running after them, just b/c it's their "job" #ThisIsAmerica https://t.co/sX0KqozbPU

12:48 AM - 07 May 2018

5. The dances Gambino and the children perform are all popular dance trends that have taken over the internet in the last couple of years. They could be interpreted as an example of what America believes Black individuals should be limited to, entertainment to distract from the Black reality.

Writing Diversely @writediversely

#ThisIsAmerica is a word. People dancing and partying while chaos is happening all around them. Ignoring murder, police brutality, protests and mayhem to do choreographed group dancing.

03:35 PM - 06 May 2018

6. There are various snippets of other artists appearing as ad-libs in the song as well.

Chocolate Metaphor @_mikepearson

#ThisIsAmerica Ad-libs I heard 0:36/2:01/3:01/3:42 - Young Thug 1:08 - Kendrick 1:20/1:36/2:42 - BlocBoy 1:21 - Big Sean 1:26 - Rick Ross 1:39/2:20/2:32 - 21 Savage 1:40 - Lil pump 2:06 - Slim Jxmmi 2:14 - Offset 2:25/2:30/2:44 - Quavo 3:08 - Aminé

01:24 AM - 07 May 2018

7. Gambino speaks on the controversy of marijuana in America. Notice how "America" Gambino fires bullets into a crowd and yet nothing happens to him. But after smoking a joint, the scene that follows is an immediate response to the police chasing him

Sage's Rain @sagesrain

Gambino kills the choir - nothing. But the weed gets police chasing after him. This is America

05:02 AM - 06 May 2018

8. There is a huge discussion that Gambino proposes about gun violence, showing the ease of access to fire arms as well as the usage of semi automatic weapons.

Jimmy @jfwong

THIS IS AMERICA. Childish Gambino's video speaks to gun violence, police brutality, and the exploitative nature of how we glorify & exploit black entertainment while turning a blind eye to the death of these same citizens by our own guns. Watch it. https://t.co/BIrVigZFJZ https://t.co/mvhjkWEK7E

03:55 PM - 07 May 2018

There is much more to "This Is America" that requires a bit more of interpretation and analysis.

RCA / Via imgur

For instance, take this scene where Childish Gambino is dancing on the hood of a car. Notice how all the cars are older models. This could be in reference to a more accurate portrayal of Black America, compared to the glamour and luxury normally seen in rap videos and entertainment.

Also, take note of how every car has its emergency lights on and driver side door open. This could be in reference to the numerous accounts of "traffic stops" done by the police towards Black individuals.

There is a huge comparison between the treatment of firearms and the human lives taken by the gun.

RCA / Via Giphy

In the opening scene, the gun that Gambino fires into the head of the guitarist is placed on a cloth, where someone carries it away with care. The murdered black man, however, is dragged away on the floor lifeless. It is an accurate representation of how guns are placed of higher importance than the victims that are slain by them. The regulations and laws in place are all sided with the protection of guns as opposed to the victims that are killed by them.

The lyrics also play an important part of why "This Is America" is so powerful. Coupled with the visuals of the music video, it creates an interesting conversation.

RCA / Via Giphy

1. The lyrics that are sang before and after every shooting in the video is extremely important. Each instance of musicality that followed a gun involves praising black culture and reinforcing black strength. It is a discussion of regardless of a black individual's successful, they will face the same oppression, violence, and discrimination despite that success.

The Lyrics state:

"You go tell somebody

Grandma told me

Get your money, black man (get your money)"

RCA / Via Giphy

2. The lyrics that follows the shooting are a simple statement of:

"This is America (woo, ayy)

Don't catch you slippin' up (woo, woo, don't catch you slippin', now)

Don't catch you slippin' up (ayy, woah)

Look what I'm whippin' up (Slime!)"

These lyrics are warnings America has for black people. That this is what happens when Black people step out of the American made lines for them. It could be interpreted as the line black people have to walk in their reality. A thin line that harshly punishes them for celebrating their identity. The line "Look what I'm whippin' up" could be a reference to the stories that are spun differently when black people are wrongfully killed (e.g. Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland, Philandro Castile, and many more).

RCA / Via Giphy

3. The rest of the lyrics that are rapped in the actual verses of the song are basic statements that hold no meaning except to reinforce the distractions from the real issues. They precede the more African/Black culture influenced instrumentals and switch to a modern, hip-hop beat with lyrics that only state how fashionable or how cool being a black person is. The first verse is a statement of how "desirable" it is to be a black person by praising the street culture. The second is one that references the more pop culture end.

An example of this would be:

Verse 1

"Guns in my area (word, my area)

I got the strap (ayy, ayy)

I gotta carry 'em

Yeah, yeah, I'ma go into this (ugh)

Yeah, yeah, this is guerilla (woo)

Yeah, yeah, I'ma go get the bag

Yeah, yeah, or I'ma get the pad

Yeah, yeah, I'm so cold like, yeah (yeah)

I'm so dope like, yeah (woo)"

Verse 2

"Look how I'm geekin' out (hey)

I'm so fitted (I'm so fitted, woo)

I'm on Gucci (I'm on Gucci)

I'm so pretty (yeah, yeah)

I'm gon' get it (ayy, I'm gon' get it)

Watch me move (blaow)"

RCA / Via Giphy

4. The outro of the song is perhaps some of the most powerful in the song. Young Thug sings what is like to be a black individual in this country. Facing prejudice, discrimination, and racism regardless of wealth, success, or innocence:

These lines are partnered with the scene of Gambino running from the police. This is Gambino's reality. This is a black person's reality.

"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

You just a big dawg, yeah

I kenneled him in the backyard

No probably ain't life to a dog

For a big dog"

With "This Is America" being such a cultural hit due to everything its provided, it's no surprise at how much buzz this video has gotten. All in all, it is a powerful visual and musical art piece that brings the black struggle to the forefront of discussion.

SZA / Via Instagram