Childish Gambino This Is America Explained

admin 5/24/2019

From Kodak Black to the Charleston church shooting

1. Homage to Charleston Victims

Gambino’s reference to the deadly Charleston church shooting in 2015, committed by a white supremacist

'Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away'

The choir featured at the opening of the song places it within a long tradition of black music and art—as has been the case throughout history, particularly American history, art itself becomes both a response to and balm for pain. A choir can also represent a group coming together and performing as a single body—Bino emphasizes that black people live together and die together in their fight against injustice.

Later in the music video, Gambino guns down a choir. That imagery may allude to the 2015 Charleston church shooting, a terrorist attack in which white supremacist Dylann Roof murdered nine African Americans at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

2. A Deadly Crossroads

The crux of Gambino’s “This is America” video lies on the juxtaposition between the typically jubilant events in the foreground and the tragic ones in the background. Contributor Emptysaturnand staffer Colby Handy decode how this interplay sets up the basis of the song:

'We just wanna party Party just for you We just want the money Money just for you (yeah) I know you wanna party Party just for me Girl, you got me dancin' (girl, you got me dancin') Dance and shake the frame (yeah) We just wanna party (yeah) Party just for you (yeah) We just want the money (yeah) Money just for you (you) I know you wanna party (yeah) Party just for me (yeah) Girl, you got me dancin' (girl, you got me dancin', yeah) Dance and shake the frame (ooh)'

These lyrics, and the video as a whole, explore the relationship between the dancing and partying and violence that combine to make up so much of both entertainment and black life in America.

In the music video, Donald and a group of school children perform popular dances like the “shoot” and the “Roy Purdy dance,” while other people scatter in the background. Donald and the children remain the focal point, representing how social media blinds people from the true problems in America by feeding them entertainment and pointless trends. As Doreen St. Felix writes,

This is what it’s like, Glover’s video seems to say, to be black in America—at any given time, vulnerable to joy or to destruction. When his character is not dancing, he is killing.

The burning and explosion of a police car in the background is likely in reference to the uprisings that took place in American cities like Baltimore, Maryland and Ferguson, Missouri after police killed black men and some protestors set police cars on fire.

The “girl” in these lines may be America—Gambino is pointing out how some people are willing to sell themselves just to get ahead, becoming numb to the physical and mental suffering around them.

3. Kodak & Clark

Although Gambino directly name-checks Kodak Black on the song’s second verse, he also embeds what seems to be a reference to a recent police shooting of Stephon Clark, an unarmed black man.

'This a celly (ha) That's a tool (yeah) On my Kodak (woo, Black)'

This line may be referencing the March 18, 2018 shooting of Stephon Clark, a black man who was shot eight times in the back and killed in the backyard of his home in Sacramento, California. The police officers who shot him presumed that he was responsible for local area robberies and was armed with a gun (“tool”). He was found with only his iPhone (“celly”). As of March 30, 2018, the case is still under investigation.

In the music video, multiple teenagers appear on a ledge with their phones out while Bino raps this couplet, alluding to the many instances cell phones have been used as tools to broadcast police shooting, rioting, or violence against black people in America. Donald’s shouting out Florida rapper Kodak Black, but he’s also playing on the Kodak brandwhich produces cameras.

Glover used Kodak’s 2015 song “SKRT” on his television series Atlantain the episode “Go for Broke,” and his 2017 track “Patty Cake” in the episode “North of the Border.”

Childish Gambino - This Is America (Official Video)

This Is America Childish Gambino lyrics

Intro: Choir]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away

[Bridge: Childish Gambino & Young Thug]

We just wanna party

Party just for you

We just want the money

Money just for you (yeah)

I know you wanna party

Party just for me

Girl, you got me dancin' (girl, you got me dancin')

Dance and shake the frame (yeah)

We just wanna party (yeah)

Party just for you (yeah)

We just want the money (yeah)

Money just for you (you)

I know you wanna party (yeah)

Party just for me (yeah)

Girl, you got me dancin' (girl, you got me dancin', yeah)

Dance and shake the frame (ooh)

[Chorus: Childish Gambino]

This is America

Don't catch you slippin' now

Look what I'm whippin' now

This is America (woo)

Don't catch you slippin' now

Look what I'm whippin' now

[Verse 1: Childish Gambino, Blocboy JB, Slim Jxmmi, Young Thug, & 21 Savage]

This is America (skrrt, skrrt, woo)

Don't catch you slippin' now (ayy)

Look at how I'm livin' now

Police be trippin' now (woo)

Yeah, this is America (woo, ayy)

Guns in my area (word, my area)

Rencana kerja kepala sekolah. 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)

We gon' blow like yeah (straight up, uh)

Refrain: Choir & Childish Gambino]

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, tell somebody

You gon' tell somebody

Grandma told me

Get your money, Black man (get your money)

Get your money, Black man (get your—Black man)

Black man

[Chorus: Childish Gambino, Slim Jxmmi, & Young Thug]

This is America (woo, ayy)

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

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

Look what I'm whippin' now (Slime!)

This is America (yeah, yeah)

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

Don't catch you slippin' now (ayy, woo)

Look what I'm whippin' now (ayy)

[Verse 2: Childish Gambino, Quavo, Young Thug, & 21 Savage]

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)

This a celly (ha)

That's a tool (yeah)

On my Kodak (woo, Black)

Ooh, know that (yeah, know that, hold on)

Get it (get it, get it)

Ooh, work it (21)

Hunnid bands, hunnid bands, hunnid bands (hunnid bands)

Contraband, contraband, contraband (contraband)

I got the plug in Oaxaca (woah)

They gonna find you like blocka (blaow)

[Intro: Choir]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Autocad 2017 serial number crack. Sep 3, 2016 - Autocad 2017 Crack is well known vector drawing and graphic designing. IDM, Activators, Crack, Patch, Keygen, Serial, Key Free Download. For example, installing AutoCAD 2017 as a point product requires product key 001I1, but installing AutoCAD 2017 from the AutoCAD Design Suite Ultimate. AutoCAD 2017 Product Key Free crack Download Full It'll help to create & drafting. AutoCAD 2017 Product Key Keygen Serial Number may be the essential. If you're a student, educator, or educational institution who is a member of the Autodesk Education Community, there are several ways to obtain your serial. IF You cant input a serial and a product key, just install as trial.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away

[Bridge: Childish Gambino & Young Thug]

We just wanna party

Party just for you

We just want the money

Money just for you (yeah)

I know you wanna party

Party just for me

Girl, you got me dancin' (girl, you got me dancin')

Dance and shake the frame (yeah)

We just wanna party (yeah)

Party just for you (yeah)

We just want the money (yeah)

Money just for you (you)

I know you wanna party (yeah)

Party just for me (yeah)

Girl, you got me dancin' (girl, you got me dancin', yeah)

Dance and shake the frame (ooh)

This is America

Don't catch you slippin' now

Look what I'm whippin' now

This is America (woo)

Don't catch you slippin' now

Look what I'm whippin' now

[Verse 1: Childish Gambino, Blocboy JB, Slim Jxmmi, Young Thug, & 21 Savage]

This is America (skrrt, skrrt, woo)

Don't catch you slippin' now (ayy)

Look at how I'm livin' now

Police be trippin' now (woo)

Yeah, this is America (woo, ayy)

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)

We gon' blow like yeah (straight up, uh)

Grandma told me

Get your money, Black man (get your money)

Get your money, Black man (get your—Black man)

Black man

[Chorus: Childish Gambino, Slim Jxmmi, & Young Thug]

This is America (woo, ayy)

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

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

Look what I'm whippin' now (Slime!)

This is America (yeah, yeah)

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

Don't catch you slippin' now (ayy, woo)

Look what I'm whippin' now (ayy)

[Verse 2: Childish Gambino, Quavo, Young Thug, & 21 Savage]

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)

This a celly (ha)

That's a tool (yeah)

On my Kodak (woo, Black)

Ooh, know that (yeah, know that, hold on)

Get it (get it, get it)

Ooh, work it (21)

Hunnid bands, hunnid bands, hunnid bands (hunnid bands)

Contraband, contraband, contraband (contraband)

I got the plug in Oaxaca (woah)

They gonna find you like blocka (blaow)

America, I just checked my following list, and—

You gon' tell somebody

—you mothafuckas owe me

Grandma told me

Get your money, Black man (Black man)

Get your money, Black man (get your—Black man)

Black man

(One, two, three—get down)

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, tell somebody

You gon' tell somebody

Grandma told me, 'Get your money'

Get your money, Black man (Black man)

Black man

[Outro: Young Thug]

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