I don’t know if I’m in love with this man’s conscious mind or his fearlessness to tell the truth about America. Adding both of these traits together produces the sum of LOVE…I simply LOVE this man. Childish Gambino the man who is more than enough reason to use Music Monday to share my views of this graphic masterpiece and very much needed truth about our reality in this America. There are so many ways that this symbolic imagery can be interpreted. So many meanings painted in the background of his hypnotic dancing that pulls you in and leaves you blind to whats really going on. MESSAGE. So many different reasons why I watched this epic depiction of my reality ten plus times. It is an example of what Nina Simone expressed years ago…that ART must reflect the times..and Gambino does it with perfection.
“You can’t help it. An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times.”
― Nina Simone
We are the walking blind. Ignoring the realities of our existence on a daily bases. Playing the music of good times while the hands of injustice continue to bluntly hide the motive of ending the life that lives in Black bodies. We dance, tune in, and base our reality off of reality shows instead of noticing that our reality is one that we should be fearful of. Dancing around the truth and using social media noise as a way to distract us from our truth. Thank You Mr. Gambino….you and your twin hit it on the head in this beautiful image of life. There is so much
more to the epic tribute to life as we see it. It would take me a week to explore all the messages running across the screen, that my post will turn into a dissertation on the rise and constant fall of America…Black America. Tho I am intrigued, most are annoyed of its graphic truth. A truth that we have seen played out several times on CNN and MSNBC yet we don’t protest for their elimination, but are hoping for the ban on a moment in life that has caused you to wake up and pay more attention. WAKE UP and embrace your reality because what danced around on your screen is the choreography you perform daily.
Depending on money, shopping for brands that cost more than your monthly living expense, and being a Willie Lynch in your own communities. Constantly fighting against each other, while keeping the ole master happy. Stop playing in my face while calling “Black Excellence” support all the while you were leaking my failure report. You missed that small symbolism because you were too concerned with the gun violence in the video. Guns that your President expressed we need more of and placed them in the hands of teachers instead of designing an educated plans to eliminate them from dangerous hands.
Too concerned with fads and the hype of Love and Hip Hop that we have ignored the reality show of our existence. The scared straight truth of the home we call America. The truth of strange fruit still swinging on trees as we grin and bare it all falsely believing we are free. Hip-Hop not really encouraging us to stand together, but convincing us that having bands will increase the promise of a better land. Wearing labels of hood wealth that displays to the world that we make enough to be accepted among those who won’t accept us even if Prada is stamped inside our coat. Message. No one having enough self-pride to GET OUT of the nonsense that has tormented us for so long that we say and continue to be hypnotized by the misconception of reality….UNTIL NOW. I HOPE NOW YOU ARE WOKE!
This is America (woo, ayy)
Don’t catch you slippin’ up (woo, woo, don’t catch you slippin’, now) –“This Is America” -Childish Gambino
Mood: We have the power to influence a culture; that was taught to hate each other; functioning as a separate people; living shackled to a dream and hopes of being free. This Is America.
SayWhatNOW?!?! 