The Hidden Meanings Behind Childish Gambino’s ‘This Is America’ Video 

Their dancing is so smooth that you literally fail to see the carnage in the background.

She didnt get the 17 second moment of scilence for the 17 victims of the parkland school shootings in the middle

Notice how in the beginning the gun is taken care of better than the body. They just drag the body away but the gun is grabbed and wrapped. (Y’all thanks for the likes! I know you don’t care but kinda means a lot 😂)

This video is simply genius. I have been a professor for 20 years and rarely have I seen a better representation of art as protest. Enjoy this video folks it’s a once in a generation event.

She didn’t notice the “this is a celly, that is a tool.” Which was referencing the black man that got shot because cops thought he was pulling out a gun but it was just his phone.

When she mentioned how we RARELY see the look of terror in black men’s eyes when they’re about to get killed, it immediately took me to the death of George Floyd and how just that one video was enough to cause an uproar of protests and riots.

this song is one big easter egg

Hi, you forgot a few things. 1# The choir is singing about money, greed is a religion now. 2# He has S. African choreography comparing their civil rights to American civil rights. 3# The white horse is referenced in Revelations & most important, when he pauses as if he's shooting, but no weapon, how many Black men die because of no weapon but it was assumed they had it?

Finally, someone has talked about him dancing like Michael Jackson in Black or White. Also, the moves he does when he comes into the room with the choir really look like James Brown's signature dance moves. His poses and expressions really mimic African American entertainers and images throughout the whole video. It's really genius.

He was smart not to explain this video. Artists ruin it when they don't just let everyone interpret it in their own way. That's where all their power comes from.

I’m looking at this 2 years later again. He’s representing America killing us.

"i got the strap i gotta carry em" to me refers to this obsession in America with carrying a gun and specifically for open carry for no other reason other than I have a gun so Im going to show it off and make sure everyone can see it

THANK YOU Inside Edition for having an intelligent black woman that can explain her pov, in an articulate way. Im really impressed...no bs, no drama, just a solid explanation. THANK YOU FOR THE EYE OPENING VIDEO.

I’ve never seen anyone address the detail of the chair that the guitar player sits in is wet. It may mean nothing, but it’s an odd detail to be meaningless.

Crazy how the kids were wearing masks while recording on their cells... 2 yrs ago... 🤯

Rev.6:8 “And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him....”

It's 2023, and I still rewatch "This is America" every few months, at least. I can also distinctly remember the first time my ex-girlfriend showed me this track. I actually cried. I'm not ashamed to admit it. There's just so much raw emotion that goes into every movement and frame. He will never see my comment, but he has done BEAUTIFUL work, our Donald Gambino. :)

Its been over two years and I am still amaze at the brilliance of how he was able the capture so much in a 4 minute video.....this is so historic.

The most important part of video is the very first scene. The guitar. The easiest way to relay a massage to the masses is through music. MUSIC IS THE MASTER MANIPULATOR in every walk of life.

He’s also wearing replica “confederate” pants through out the whole video. I don’t think I need to explain why.

The 17 seconds of silence represents the 17 victims of the parkland shooting

The first time I've seen the music video it scared the hell out of me, even now it gives me shivers, because of the meanings.

I humbly think this video was far deeper than JUST the black struggle in America..I think it took shots at everyone.The glorification of violence and the non-chalant acceptance of it. The greed of America, the momentary "care" and chaos and right back to the same old song and dance. There seem to be a lot of ways to interpret every scene and depiction that pretty much puts all of us on blast...pure genius.

I’m so stoked that this video is reaching people in a big way. What an amazing piece of art.

All these people caring about the type of gun (semi/auto) rather than her interpretations reinforces the message he was trying to portray that Americans care more about guns than people.

Is no one going to talk about how they just showed a clip of Miley Cyrus twerking.

The ending also referenced Get Out and Lynching

This is *her* interpretation. What I would like to see is *Donald Glover's* interpretation since he was the one who created the video.

the horseman is a reference to War one of the 4 horsemen of the apocalipse not the kkk

The first shooting besides just the jim crow pose, I took 2 more things from it. 1 the mask symbolizes the lack of media attention for black lives. Faceless violence. 2. The pillow the gun was put on shows the respect gun rights and those causing violence get over the victims.

1:15 - 1:35 was just plain creepy

This is the longest video inside edition has Made that I ever saw

Damn would I ever kill to see gambino explain this video in an interview

The video is whole a genius. I can't really believe someone can be this creative. He made a video of how racism is going on and got away without anyone getting mad. He's a genius, hats off.

Three things you missed: Glover C-walks into the room with the choir. "Celly" is a double entendre- cellphone and cellmate. The ending is almost definitely a reference to The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, specifically the last page of chapter 1.

This was fascinating, and I appreciated how much Dr. Brooks acknowledged ambiguity or double meanings, rather than confidently proclaiming any single definitive story.

After watching this video, I went and watched the music video, paying attention to the background instead of the dancers. How did I not notice all of the stuff happening in the background before?

If you seeing this comment thanks

I was so emotionally crushed the first time I watched the music video. I didn't understand all of the references, but I _absolutely_ received the twist of pain, shame, and anguish of not only racial conflict, but frustration with perpetuation of damaging stereotypes and pursuit of destructive values. I've never had such a detailed emotional reaction to a song before - I can't remember specifically, but I want to say that my eyes were welled up with tears by the end of that first watch. It's tough to listen/watch because of that, so I've mostly avoided it like a weirdo. When the parodies and jokes started coming out, I'd become upset that people were taking it so lightly and belittling the message; like a fresh mixture of sadness and anger. I'm not at all a fan of his music or his standup, I only ever watched the work he did on RU-vid with Derek Comedy, then a few years later with Community; so it adds another layer of confusion on the IMMEDIATE intensity of my reaction and subsequent respect of the seriousness of what he brings to light and how effectively he's communicated that. I'm just rambling in semi-circles, so I'll stop, haha. In summary: Typing all this out made me realize that the music video for "This is America" is the first piece of art that's ever _SPOKEN TO ME,_ and I'm just some doofus white dude in his late 30's

she described “this is a celly, this is a tool” wrong . it’s about the african american guy getting shot by the police because he pulled his phone out and he thought is was a gun .

*The “Michael Jackson” Reference Was NEW TO ME‼️‼️👀*

does it really matter what type of gun it was can yall calm down

I don't know why but "This Is America" really explains so much about the horrible violence in America. This song very much needed the violence to go well with the song. Childish Gambing really was thinking when he made this.

8:30 She missed that the cars almost all have open drivers-side doors and the flashers on, linking their significance to the cars black men were driving when they were pulled over and brutalized and/or killed by police. If I'm not mistaken, many of the vehicles match the ones actually owned by the victims, like Philando Castille.

That was not a "semi-automatic weapon"

I know I'm years late but the man riding the horse is actually a representation of death

The school kids dancing with him represent the nine kids that were shot and killed at the school and they're dancing to show how people move on from important thing to watch a new movie coming out or something

R.I.P George Floyd

122 M views on his video in a week!!! amazing!!!!

17 seconds of no music means 17 seconds of the shooting in Florida

One of the best, most haunting music videos I've seen. And Childish Gambino's performance is astounding - every muscle and facial twitch is masterful.

Miley Cyrus has nothing to do with black dancing😪😂🤣

When I first saw the video I was shocked, then watched it again and noticed the symbolism throughout. I like her interpretations, there is probably so much more.

"Some people respect the badge, everyone respects the gun".

Disturbing and very psychological. It makes me feel joy in madness

1:59 the gun is handled with care while the body is just dragged away

I applaud her take, but she MISSED a WHOLE LOT. That is a testament to his creative genius.

Great explanation. This is probably one of the best, if not the best, video ever filmed in terms of a cultural message to America.

She mentions about “this is celli (probably spelt wrong) being a reference to events caught on cell phones . But Celli also refers to ‘Cell’ in as prison. When it pans to those boys/men, it looks familiar to a prison setting which is also a tool used by the system to oppress black ppl. Might be wrong

Re: the white horse scene, doesn't "Death ride in on a white horse"?

I don’t know why everyone cares about the type of gun. That’s one major part of the music video you focus on the little things and not the big picture.

I wanted to know why was they wearing face masks? We just started wearing face masks a few months ago.

Thank you so much! I have read some about the motifs and images from his video but you raised ideas I hadn’t heard.

Also when Childish Gambino says “This is a celly” “Thats a tool” it can also mean to police who harm blacks who just pull out their phone thinking it’s a gun

Well *This is America*

Inside edition is on a roll today

Thank you for a clear, well articulated and insightful analysis. Watched this video two years ago in far away Australia and whilst I saw it, from a distance, as a critique on America's nutty, crazy to the rest of the world, culturally accepted gun violence, I didn't get its nuance associated with fear of police violence against blacks, and how this modern day phenomenon is a continuation of America's ongoing racially violent history. In light of 2020, it takes on even more meaning ... as great art always does! There is just something so, so powerful about this video that has me really admiring the artistry and talent of Donald Glover and this visually amazing, cleverly choreographed and exceptionally well produced video. I also appreciate your calm and thoughtful analysis which helped to unpack this video's more subtle references.

I interpreted the old cars as meaning that there's no progress happening is the US.

I never understood why Inside Edition puts “Gullible” in the description of their videos

To me it also says how the media always show happy "progressive people" instead of the reality of the Black man

Thank you, Dr. Brooks. Some of the references were apparent when I first saw this video but you've brought up so much more for me to appreciate and consider.

I was looking a the historical date of May 5th, which is when this video was released. I saw it back then, but to hear your interpretation of this from a studied historical perspective was insightful and is appreciated.

I read the description and I saw Michael Jackson name right away but I'm gonna watch the video to see what he has to do with "This Is America"

5:10 that falling man in the bacground might relate to the 9/11 jumpers

Thank you. This us the review I was looking for.

If someone hasn't said this already, I think the horse is a reference to death. There is a saying that "Death rides on a pale white horse." Not only is the horse white, but the person riding the horse is dressed in all black, like the Grim Reaper wears, and, the Grim Reaper is a symbol of death.

"and it's easy to miss what's going on" WATCH ME MOVE!!!

That "celly" part, I read a comment where it can be alluding to how cops would assume the black person is about to pull out a gun when the person was just gonna get a wallet, and the gun is also regarded as a "tool"

Thank you for creating this, it was very eye-opening!

Thank you so much I have watched this video so many times and didn't get all that information. Thank u so much👊🏾

The real meaning behind it is actually:"this is America"

I’ve always wanted to know the meaning but I could never put my finger on it

Killing 10 teens with ak-47: it's okay breaking a car: *TOO VIOLENT*

Thank you. Thank you. What a wonderful review and explanation of a powerful and historic (in every sense of that word) work of art that happens to be a music video. As a 'old white guy' that was sent the link to "This Is America" when it first erupted, from a very good black friend (oh, groan, such a cliche, I know) but which I would otherwise have remained ignorant, I watched it's shocking graphics in surprise. But it was the figure of a shirtless black man that seem to be an in-your-face caricature that really made me uncomfortable. Finally I realized that THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT. I was to be uncomfortable, but that I HAD to watch because the video was so good. I started to realize my unease was because he was black AND angry. Something that I needed to feel and not just see. It worked and I had to come back now after all the events following the murder of George Floyd. I believe it is hard for most white Americans to actually see a black American let alone allow people of color to truly be human. 'Invisible Man' is iconic for a reason. But even knowing that, it is still hard to see and feel the racism in that realization. This BLM movement is getting many complacent white Americans to see and feel the racism. Realize the exploitation that racism has imbued into all of America. It was economics, was capitalism that forged American slavery and it is the same economic and cultural exploitation that has kept racism central to America. Perhaps this video can help America 'get it' and work on changing it. We have to stop running and chasing through this warehouse, or we will never get out of the darkness. As Maya Angelou said “When we know better we do better!”

NOTE ON THE WHITE HORSE. One of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Represents conquest. See Bible, Rev 6

Great video! Learned a lot today and certainly left me thinking about the Black community and the struggles they continue to face.

Im pretty sure white horse is from old spice

Wow, what an amazing song!!! The meaning of the song is soooooo deep

Thank you very much for this video. I am an Australian high school English teacher and I will be using this in my analysis task for students. I appreciate your work in this.

Couple things you missed: Donald Glover character in the video IS America. His character represents America. That's why he's the one committing the violent acts. Also how after every shooting, he places the gun on a red cloth, handled with care, symbolizing how 'Red America' values guns over human life. After the first shooting, the pistol is placed in the hands of a man, wrapped in a red cloth, while the man who was murdered, is just dragged away.. The cars at the end, all old and outdated, represent Lack of Progression in the black community. Extremely powerful.

6:49 the white horse is a symbol of death in some cultures

This was very educational ! Thank you so much for making this video!!

The lady is turning up at 2:00 watch closely 😂😂

So MJ smashing windows of a car was seen as "too violent" and audience had "trouble seeing him smash windows of a car" 😂 people be crazy.

Donald Glover is used for *ACTING* this is *MUSIC* so it's *CHILDISH GAMBINO* genius.....

Hi, I'm from Chile, I had seen the video and didn't know the significance of it. Thanks, the explanation open my eye to the meaning of it. Thank you very much

Jeez, that music video has alot more purpose than i thought!

After all that we've been through (slavery, terrorism, oppression, murder etc), many of is still try to stay to make the best of it (dancing, singing, celebrating) going along to get along to our own detriment when we really want to run but we don't have a home to run to hince the darkness.

This is so well done, bravo on the analysis!

Great job breaking this down.. makes you think and opens your eyes and that is a thing that doesn't exist in modern music and if it does it's swept under the rug.