Hidden Meanings Behind Childish Gambino's 'This Is America' Video Explained

Childish Gambino's 'This Is America' has become an overnight cultural phenomenon. The internet was quick to point out tons of hidden messages throughout the piece. Here's some you've might have missed.
Read more analysis on 'This Is America': www.thisisinsider.com/this-is-...
The INSIDER team believes that life is an adventure! Subscribe to our channel and visit us at: thisisinsider.com
INSIDER on Facebook: / thisisinsider
INSIDER on Instagram: / thisisinsider
INSIDER on Twitter: / thisisinsider
INSIDER on Snapchat: insder.co/2KJLtVo
Produced by: Alana Yzola

[@anthonymedina9425]

I like how as soon as you get comfortable with the soft parts and start to sway to the melody, he shoots a gun and snaps you out of it, almost, as if to remind you "hey don't get comfortable, stay alert, or you'll be next"

[@cotton966]

Anthony Medina This hit me so hard. The theories in the song are so harsh..

[@ilorenzo5592]

“This is America, Don’t can’t you slipping now”

[@Rosiecat677]

omfg you are so right

[@sweetfla82]

Anthony Medina totally agree!! Exactly how I felt when I watched this.

[@gojiberry5524]

More white Americans get slain by American police than black men. What kinda racist shit are you pulling?

[@bennett1426]

He killed black men without being caught but when he smoked weed he had to run

[@Wagoogus_3st]

u got a point there

[@lmaoayy1747]

@@samue1991 No, That Killing a black life is less offensive to the government than smoking weed.

[@lordvenomous6335]

Lmao ayy Then why is weed legalized but murder isn't?

[@alesbianhotmess]

@@lordvenomous6335 weed isn't legalized everywhere and it is still classified as illegal by the federal government.

[@lordvenomous6335]

makayla farley What I'm saying is that it's ridiculous to say that the government thinks that killing a black person is less offensive than smoking weed. The fact that it's legalized anywhere and murder isn't should be a good enough point

[@wickedham]

I noticed how the two times that he actually had a gun he was able to gently place the gun down on the red cloth and walk away without anybody doing anything. BUT when the kids are dancing around him and he holds up his bare hands and pretends to be holding a gun, everybody gets scared and runs. Maybe that's a comment on how "we thought he had a gun" is a prevalent justification for the shooting of unarmed black boys.

[@Destined4SuccessD4S]

Great job

[@diva2dmax]

Interesting point

[@humblemohlakoana6737]

Wow interesting 🤔 👏...

[@candicefrost4561]

Or even children being so terrified from shootings that they react with terror at even the hint of one

[@jenevarider3316]

Beautiful analysis!

[@Neo-zi3kg]

He doesn’t need a Grammy. The song is better than a Grammy or any award. It’s real art.

[@coldnoodllss]

he got 4 grammys for it tho

[@quarterbckpass]

This is trash. There are two other people who have the same song and he didnt write the bars, the vibe or hook. He didn't make the treat of the music video!! All he did was dance LOL and he won 4 Grammys? Yeah this is amerixan trying to destroy art

[@chrisharms9092]

I think he won the Grammys, but he turned them down in protest right? That’s what I remember hearing in an Honors philosophy class

[@quarterbckpass]

​@@chrisharms9092 CG is a follower he should of jus accepted the grammy ...i bet the other artists like Drake, or a Jcole still look at him the same way regardless. Maybe if childish told the truth about his art...mainstream hiphop such as the grammys would be different. Drake keeps his ghostwriting discreete...nd never take the honors of the lyrics but CG ...DOES. He tries to be his own publicist nd its awful

[@Sean-MacGuire]

Its a bs video lmao what a joke

[@manisrevenge]

in the end they were out to get him because he stopped performing

[@Aaron-ln3ht]

This is underrated.

[@user-kd9rz8uk4w]

or running away from Fema camps smh

[@Ffcchh0]

Also it reminded me of running while escaping slavery

[@elmicky7033]

true

[@joudfarhat2161]

Gladly I can say that I made ur likes go from 1.4k to 1.5k

[@akulamakakula4898]

This is what teachers mean when they say use evidence from the text

[@cupriferouscatalyst3708]

Basically, they're telling you to think and not just listen.

[@udontsubugay86]

But this has so many meanings

[@nathanduguid3303]

Well, in 2020, it is currently Level 5 of Jumanji and I'm using this for an ELA project... so yeah.

[@random.pupper1972]

Waab

[@crackedstar9992]

Too bad current us president just do the opposite in public confidently🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

[@roblakey9581]

The pose he took before shooting the guitarist 1:16 is straight from Jump Jim Crow 1838. The incorporation of historical references throughout the video is stunning!

[@argh1989]

Thank you! I didn't realise the Jim Crow figure came up so early. I assumed the "Jim Crow Era" was named so because that's when it was created. Now I read that it peaked in the 1850s.

[@justathoughtmyfriend1403]

Man, the symbolism in this vid is amazing. You could write a whole research assessment on this. The ending where it enters a dark opening reminds me of the door of no return that is in the slave castle/fortresses in Ghana and other west African coastal areas. The dark cemented area where he is running reminds me of the pitch black desolate tomb like spaces Africans were locked up in when they were captured by Europeans. It's pretty sickening. It leaves people of all backgrounds into tears when they take the tours. That pose Donald does with his arms out in front of him can mean so many things as well. Bondage, surrender, helpless, no voice, arrest, death, lynching, etc...Yeah, you won't see this on mainstream music video play, if they do that anymore.

[@7michaelwright]

what im currently doing lol

[@nyah258]

you missed the 17 seconds of silence for the 17 fatalities from the parkland shooting

[@davidmendez7154]

@Moonlight Glisten From minute 2:44 to 3:01. When he lights up.

[@bigzoerayy]

Debra Turner I live in Florida but not in Parkland.

[@legg6649]

I didn’t know that... thank you

[@menorbatista3167]

Is just a #*"!ing SONGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

[@vax1s89]

and u just a &*%*ing chummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmp

[@dobby6417]

I thought “its a celly. That’s a tool” was when police mistake a phone for a gun

[@dobby6417]

Ohhh ok

[@cotton966]

Alina he hasn’t explained anything, and the song is full of hidden and unknown messages. So, both of you are right.

[@ruellf21]

Yea, I thought that line was a reference to how people are being shot and killed over mistaking cell phones for guns.

[@balsarmy]

I think it's a perfect line. You can connect it to that case that you ention but also you can see it as using phones as a tool by government etc.

[@Wsg393]

Maybe it was representing The Hate U Give, because the police in that book/movie also mistook a brush (or in this case phone) for a gun.

[@justanothermortal1373]

"Many on Twitter have cited that America has a tendency to applaud for black culture while turning their backs on the issues we face." This is such a thought-provoking line. I wish more people would talk about this.

[@Sean-MacGuire]

Blacks are not oppressed in America stop the misinformation 🤡

[@dr.timtam6782]

He says “1, 2, 3, get down!” towards the end which may be a double meaning. “Get down!” as in dancing, and “Get down!” as in gun violence.

[@thestanley2692]

This video made me smart. The comments made me even smarter.

[@fatimasow6887]

😂😂😂

[@riyahhh594]

😂

[@kosmonstellar]

Same 👍🏿

[@Pat18475]

So, you should also be smart and run out of....

[@iranrwidynt8253]

yo this vid makes me unfollowing all the american celebrities on instagram and soc media thanks childish gambino.

[@bruh-yv8om]

The guns are carried away carefully, and the bodies are dragged

[@lmaoayy1747]

@@Profile.4 Found the Trump supporter y'all lmao

[@them1478]

This is america..

[@darkskulls2846]

Look how we livin yuh

[@Johnnywhamo]

The gun was taken way in a cloth so he didn't get popped with a weapon. You shoot, little hommie ( makin his early gang bones) grabs it, wipes it and chucks it, if little hommie get's caught with the weapon one way of or the other at that age he walks.

[@b1ackb3rry2]

@@Joel-sv3ww Christ he was just joking are you dumb?

[@donwar213]

Here we are 5 to 6 years later and this still hits the same... All subliminal messages truly expose us Americans for who we are...

[@shikane8459]

I thought that the "this a celly, that a tool" line was referring to how cops are commonly mistaking items such as cellphones and other things as guns in lots of cases.

[@hiimannoying8524]

Well, as they said in the video, it definitely had multiple meanings, considering the prison industrial system and the rise of technology. Childish Gambino definitely wanted to leave interpretation up to people for this song.

[@markzucc4480]

Producer: How many secret messages do you want? Donald Glover: *Yes*

[@sarahaustin764]

hahahahahahaha

[@jackson-md2gh]

It was made by Chilsish Gambino, not Donald Glover.

[@nariyah8374]

Lol

[@egangray5590]

Bro well done u should be proud of this joke

[@geony146]

Purps it’s a joke dumbass

[@joymechell277]

"This is America , don't catch you slipping up " The simple lyrics and soft beat eventually make you relax until it's disrupted by loud gunfire that startles you and reminds you that in America you can't let your guard down . Brilliant

[@mi3helle707]

This, for me it was the dancing and the violence in the background which kinda numbs you down. Then BOOM a shooting, had me clutching my pearls like wth is going on. Then repeat. After a while it's almost quite traumatizing...

[@mi3helle707]

@Creeg Yeah deffo, "dont catch you slipping nah". Very chilling

[@cloud9s266]

I thought it was sleeping

[@ylanairias6255]

This uh, this is copied

[@randomgames5969]

dude its “dont catch you slippin’ now” GET IT RIGHT

[@yourbigheadcousin5434]

The shooting of the choir broke my heart. I cant not see the faces of the South Carolina victims. Two of the older ladies who were killed remind me so much of ladies I went to church with as a child. RIP Mrs. Love and Mrs Hennigan

[@CorpseTornado]

At the end he drops the entertainment and smokes a joint to relax, then everyone turns on him. We love you while we're being entertained, but as soon as the real you comes out and we see you are a flawed human, you're back on the menu.

[@stefanymendoza5773]

I remember when this first dropped and everyone all of a sudden became an English Literature Analyst

[@amanitarose4838]

I Remember when it first came out my friends were talking about how weird and stupid it was and I watched it, they didn’t tell me what it meant at all, just were showing it and pointing out like “why does he have gunnssss?? Lmaooo?” And now watching and seeing what it means now makes me realize how dumb we all were for not noticing what it was about, and that sucks :/

[@stefanymendoza5773]

@@amanitarose4838 People tend to not think before they speak I suppose xD

[@amanitarose4838]

@@stefanymendoza5773 yeaaa :O!

[@amanitarose4838]

@@stefanymendoza5773 by the way my comment wasn’t me disagreeing with you, just me looking back-

[@stefanymendoza5773]

@@amanitarose4838 nO nO No nO, dont misunderstand ;-; I was just talking about your friends not knowing what was going in beforehand oof

[@zackkozel5313]

I feel like no one noticed that all of the people chasing him at the end are white Edit: most of them were white

[@Rosiecat677]

facts

[@sweetfla82]

It's hard to tell... They're all so blurry.

[@SoulMaStER456471]

on the left there's a black woman running.. But I think they were all running from somthing not just him only..

[@BigBatty56]

Some weren't, but yeah, I noticed most of them were

[@idontwannalive5386]

Some of them are black, though. ._.

[@Gaming_Clips101]

He is a genius for this song. It's very catchy but the symbolism is on point. He really should've gotten a Grammy for this song alone

[@accuser_of_the_brethren7816]

The chains give it away from the very beginning. Yes, it's a double meaning but every verse and scene has a double meaning and that's why it's genius.

[@claytonverdoorn1686]

“This a celly, that’s a tool” - Cell phone mistaken for a gun

[@kemetmeditation5358]

"This a celly" means cellphone. "That's a tool" means that the cellphone is the appropriate tool used by everyone for; survival, entertainment, social interaction and most importantly creating diversion from the truth concerning the state of the nation.

[@bitchesihate]

@@kemetmeditation5358 no it isn’t lol tool is short for toolie aka a gat

[@billB101]

Celly can also be short for the celebration after a goal.

[@urmom-tx1mv]

i think it means that phones can be used as a tool, like recording what happens in today’s world, and portraying it on the media, or it can mean the media portraying only the big things in america and overlooking the other things

[@kyaj5095]

@@urmom-tx1mv that’s the genius of it, it means both

[@hayleyliu5309]

*When you pause the video but the gunshots don't stop*

[@radhikachaudhari9899]

this is america

[@lizovert]

jim theseal bruh does it matter? it’s still the truth.

[@augusths243]

elizabeth Especially today huh

[@__________________________6139]

Here in Cali still with the gun laws this is very accurate everyday you here about 15 gun shots per day many automatic

[@skylarburrows9067]

chile..

[@Brandezi84]

This video is one of the most entertaining pieces of art in history. This incites every emotion. Amazing work.

[@slavmeister73]

Amazing song and amazing video clip. It definitely has a lot of hidden messages that Childish Gambino wanted to bring out for the viewers to see and hear. When I first saw this clip, I knew immediately that it was not the only time I wanted to see it.

[@Fifareal1986]

Before he ligths up his cigarette, he joinsboth his fists to create a gun, his school dancers run scared at this point. He is representing school shootings.

[@ashtonbrown6998]

And there’s 17 seconds of silence. Maybe for the 17 murdered in the parkland school shooting

[@Akihito007]

Except school shootings are very rare but the leftist Democrat run media hypes everything to get people scared of guns. About 50 people die in schools every year and while sad, that's out of over 4 MILLION STUDENTS AND TEACHERS! 50 out of 350 MILLION American citizens?!? Many more people die falling in their bathtubs or trying to get out of the shower than all of these school shootings! Plus Parkland only showed that a Democrat run government and sheriff's office utterly failed to do their jobs but we're supposed to give up our guns to a incompetent government?!?

[@beccastaigmiller1021]

If 50 people die in schools on average every year (*IF that is a correct statistic), that is 50 people too many. You cannot justify a school shooting by saying "well only some people died". That doesn't make it any less of an issue.

[@Fifareal1986]

@@Akihito007 one death in a school shooting is already a major problem.

[@dailybread2708]

She

[@AFatOcelot]

“This a celly - that’s a tool” is a reference to cops shooting black men who they think are holding guns but it was a phone.

[@Kay-zq6eq]

Yooo i neva though of that

[@lalatniia]

They see our blackness as a weapon and that's just sad

[@angieyonaga8488]

latty frr 😭✊🏾

[@cyanbenjamin8338]

@@lalatniia I don't care what the color of someone's skin is There people too Racism is disgusting

[@miguelflores3620]

Yes but he's actually saying use the cell as a tool to record or capture racism that still exists to this day, to show the world what really happens and hopefully one day punish the people recorded, for example George Floyd's killers.

[@ms.artichokecheesepizzawst3239]

For once a song and video that has in depth meaning and really makes you think ! I had to watch it several times to understand it more and more . I respect this .

[@jessegonzales7953]

Keep them videos coming I enjoyed it very much it was interesting

[@biscuty8407]

No one cared when he shot people and all the chaos was going on, but then he lid a blunt and suddenly got chased. Maybe that's also a point

[@amitypuff]

HOLY SHIT

[@Hcocali]

*Cough* kamala *cough*

[@ES21638]

It’s cuz wee sets you free and they don’t want you to be thinking about freedom cuz weed breaks the spell

[@gen_jacks]

@@tealasmith7657 *chills*

[@MasterTaiki]

Weed makes people paranoid, but that's also a reason why it causes paranoia. (Due to its legality and public perception)

[@taylormichelle5126]

at the end when he is running, there is a slight illusion where you can’t tell if he is running towards or away from the camera, symbolizing how people say we are improving and getting better, but we really aren’t

[@chrysalism7375]

damn thats deep

[@krusty5558]

Too deep for me I need a lie down

[@staniyabuns.productions7132]

@@krusty5558 me too robot dude

[@adimocerokobuli3093]

Woah

[@jasdipsagu3952]

Anyone else noticed the children wearing masks on the top level? This was made 2 years ago... 2.27...mockong you in plain sight.

[@lau_dhondt]

Masterpiece. Still so impressed by this vid.

[@AsifAAli]

Great break-down. Thank you.

[@cold3869]

it’s actually kinda scary that america is like this....

[@Kmfdmlight]

Well bc america is more abt "freedom"

[@bailey4413]

This is not how America is lol it’s just a bunch of fake news and snowflakes

[@brandonmorris440]

Lol it’s not

[@chocogrlie]

@@bailey4413 it is though, do you even read the news?

[@krissyl.575]

@@bailey4413 right, caring about innocent people being killed by cops make u a snowflake

[@heha4383]

The outfits the dancers wear are reminiscent of the clothes students wore when the first school was desegregated.

[@sarahaustin764]

the crazy thing is, in cincinnati public schools, where i grew up, those were still the uniforms. all schools are uniformed, even high school...

[@friendly1870]

Gambino is the real tool. He was once a part of the only solution. But fame and fortune have run him astray.

[@phasesift]

@@friendly1870 Gambino was once a part of what "only solution"?

[@cocoloco6060]

oh wow

[@yvettemaseck2548]

Omg that’s so cool how u found that

[@magdalenamezydlo6150]

Thank you for this upload!! Sadly so true!

[@dhammaboy1203]

This is helpful - I realized that the video has a lot of messages but I didn’t know the cultural points of reference. This video a great peace for art. Art that makes us reflect!

[@bibble03]

he shouldve gotten a grammy for this song

[@katejane1325]

He got 4?

[@mryuvraj9182]

True story

[@shriyarao2570]

Hhhh

[@siroc0610]

FACTS

[@kebz846]

The song literally got 4 Grammy's. Tf you mean?

[@huh8402]

When he said “Youre just a black man in this world; you’re just a barcode” it might have been referring to to the fact that barcode scanners scan the white spaces in a barcode, not the black ones, meaning that black people are overlooked in America.

[@sterlingb.9721]

This “barcode” is referring to African Americans being sold to the white men for money during slavery. They are also over looked as well have been for the past 400 years and then some ...

[@kittywieck]

ARENT YOU SCANNED LIKE A BARCODE WHEN YOU ENTER THE PRISON SYSTEM?

[@KevinThompson20]

Also the fact that black americans are amongst the top consumers in the country. or that white people, in many ways, make money/have made money off our labor especially in prison today.

[@sterlingb.9721]

@@KevinThompson20 facts Kevin it’s crazy man

[@YourDeadMommy]

oh wait the barcode scanners scan the white and not the black part

[@chrislom5288]

Very informative. ALways wondered about the symbolism. Great video and excellent commentary

[@terrycamerlengo5492]

What an excellent analysis!

[@janecampbell4662]

The children dancing doing what they’re told to distract from the violence are also wearing private school uniforms showing how wealth is one of the few ways to get out. Additionally they never get involved in anything outside of distracting and stand by while the others get chased and hurt

[@urmom-tx1mv]

but the uniforms are uniforms used in parts of africa

[@janecampbell4662]

@@urmom-tx1mv True but I think the video is more a commentary on America social injustice especially considering their fixation on the phones. Still part of my point stands, the kids have to sit back and watch the violence- pushing back could mean loosing their opportunity at an education and enhances the likelihood they would be the victim of the violence they’re forced to watch, whether they’re in the USA or Africa and it’s still a sign of wealth. Many kids cannot afford to go to school because even if it’s free and they are provided their uniforms they and their families still have to pay for their homes and food otherwise they won’t survive to go to school so even then it’s a sign of comparative wealth in poverty.

[@urmom-tx1mv]

@@janecampbell4662 yes but i honestly think that it’s to show how blk ppl are used for entertainment, cause we popularized many dances in america, and they’re dancing, and that’s the only thing you notice at first, you dont notice the chaos, which indicates the fact that we’re only looked at as ppl for entertainment, but when it comes to the injustice and us getting rights we’re over looked, so it’s like entertainment is the only way for us (as a whole) to make it in america, and that’s the only good thing ppl see in us, our entertainment

[@nathanvanwyk699]

Just about every public or private school in South Africa mandates a uniform. Media reports of protest violence during apartheid rule very regularly show younger participants in school clothes. Think of the 1976 Hector Pieterson murder still. This was often because the youth abandoned school to assist in protest action and that their school clothes were often the best clothes they had.

[@uh-haha7647]

From my experience, it's the poorer American public schools that have the uniform

[@thebigwesleyy]

I know im hella late, but this is what i think: I was surprised to see the guitarist show up again considering he was killed earlier, and while I forgot the guitarist, his chord progression carries the entire song. By reintroducing the guitarist, Gambino tries to show us how easy it is to forget tragedies, as so many occur in our country, and in the video. However, the problem isn’t just that we have forgotten the guitarist, but that we allow his playing to influence the entire song while leaving him forgotten. As chaos ensues, and our focus skips from obscenity to obscenity, we forget to ask the questions that actually matter. Why does this violence occur? Who are these people? We let them fade away and fall out of focus as Gambino “shakes the frame” and they become forgotten, just like the guitarist. *I didnt make up that theory btw, but i sure as hell belive it*

[@totem311]

HYPERS

[@jessicaadame3472]

Facts

[@jaylanelson4735]

wow i never thought abt that

[@tealeq4010]

Yeah also how black artists and musicians work from decades past have been drawn on and brought into popular culture but the original people who made it are forgotten

[@applescotchpie3003]

His chord progression carries the whole song but we forget him completely. That's a metaphor in and of itself.

[@andrewmark32]

Heya south african here. The gwara gwara is one of my favoirite dances

[@fashionista.talenista96]

When this video first came out, it was the celly word and him running at the end was what made me relize there's a deeper message here! I'm glad I saw it when it first came to KZbin. I just didn't get the meaning, bt I knew it was a message there! Thank you for sharing this.

[@misc7921]

After the second shooting, he casually walks away through crowds of witnesses and police. This could represent how broken modern day justice system is, and how easy it is sometimes for people to get away with stuff like this.

[@alexgeorge5744]

@@OzArt Dude it shows how easy it is to get away with crime in America and that there’s a lot of racist police officers

[@soru5892]

@Oz Art Yes because pointing out that blacks face injustice is so racist

[@caspar508]

Alex George a lot is not a fitting adverb in this

[@this_channel_is_discontinued]

​@@caspar508 *too many

[@caspar508]

frenzymee agreed

[@camilaindriago1076]

"Gwara Gwara" Me: shit I thought he was doing the stanky leg

[@DaurcKnyte]

camila Indriago we call it the beenie weenie in New Orleans

[@tenikia8243]

I can't breathe when u said that 😂😆

[@briannajourdan8892]

SAME THO

[@patricksarkodie317]

Its a dance in west Africa .. Nigeria

[@hannahdutoit6497]

@@patricksarkodie317 no it has originated from South Africa but I wouldn't be surprised if it made it's way to Nigeria

[@Gcode609]

Great breakdown...👏🏾💯👀

[@maxpatrickhaynes2194]

Cool video. Just found it. I loved this song, AND video. Thx for the insights !

[@PyRoToXiNe669]

The first instrumental is joyful, representing peace, optimism and celebrates African American music. The second is a heavy trap instrumental, representing violence, consumerism and disillusion. At the end both are mixed together, which indicates a more complex reality, violent and optimistic all at once, or simply confused by media and pop culture which allow entertainement and horrors to coexist.

[@zkittlezthabanditt604]

Underrated comment

[@intotheexcelverse]

Brilliant

[@revolucion-socialista]

Americans are all people who live on the American Continent, and not just in the united states

[@account06n23]

Underrated comment fs

[@user-jz2qb7mn2q]

Thanks for describing the meaning through the musical changes rather than visual! I can see a lot in the visuals, but don't know enough about music to pick up the ideas sent through the music.

[@thomasgroover1478]

The distraction worked on me. I honestly hadn't noticed in detail all that going down in the background before. That video is hardcore as hell for a satire.

[@jochellevalenzuela925]

Same I was like when I was watching the video "what the hell is going on in the back?" While they are dancing and I was just like "whatever just keep watching them dancing" 😅

[@ThePrentice916]

It's taken from the dancing bear video about awareness

[@danielseaburg9763]

it's not satire. it's intended as a statement on modern day society. it is of course, an entire joke that ''blacks'' are oppressed: because they are simply not.

[@andreacoppage3498]

i love how 3 yrs later i find new things. this is the deepest music vid ive ever seen.

[@alienspaceufo23]

Cool video! Thanks!

[@TheAlmightyJello]

Something I noticed was a scene where the camera follows him, and he's still using an exaggerated walk. The camera pans around and for a second, we see his face, completely deadpan, if a bit worried and concerned, and in a flash, he looks at the camera with an exaggerated expression and dances with the group of kids, grinning. For a second, when the camera's off him, we see what the characters actually thinking. Who he actually is. And then it's back to the caricature.

[@ecomworld.]

Time stamp?

[@avitrya]

This blew my mind.

[@asperkai6855]

Honestly I thought this bit was a play on how media acts. Pretend to be concerned on camera while fanning the flames when not.

[@brupper9023]

I think it means people hate Americans hate the government's actions, but they know if they dont play along they'll die

[@whatoh3407]

if anything that seams like not even America itself has a handle on whats going on.

[@gangstarmsp929]

The 17 seconds of silence in the video probably stands for the 17 people that were shot at the Florida school shooting

[@kolokopo]

gangstar MSP now this is a point

[@daisybarrow7695]

You are an actual genius!!

[@Lyns.V.]

Daisy Barrow.. someone pointed that out already on the Washington Post breaking down This is America video, that was in the trending section yesterday. This is not an original concept. This video though, is the one that should have been in trending. That Washington Post one was half as*.

[@Lyns.V.]

The 17 seconds thing.. that is. It's already been pointed out by others

[@gangstarmsp929]

L. E. I didn't know..

[@deeikee77]

Zombie like walk symbolizes how we’re all mindlessly wandering through life. Unaware of America’s grip on us. The breaks of emotion shown as variant energy are times of life and death, asleep and awake.

[@angelahall4402]

Probably one of the most important videos ever made

[@sjei.]

also, notice how the choir sings go tell somebody, and then gets gunned down, silencing the message

[@ashleyashleym2969]

Oh man!!!! I didn't even notice that!!

[@smoothkid765]

Love this.

[@baashaalbaashaal6427]

I see what you mean but after that they say get that money black man wich i think means that wealth is the new religoun

[@RagDollRat]

i think its just a comment on how black culture is obsessed with getting money via commiting crime or getting caught and then prosecuting cops/govt for money rather than social change

[@hdcbpxsytahdcbpx]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oovCnJt7Zd-bkJY

[@andytan1430]

This song should be played on the streets right now. Period.

[@kross2690]

UNTIL JUSTICE IS SERVED

[@tepharite5314]

@@kross2690 alr done lmao

[@church9597]

Another crazy

[@sillycat1799]

Why

[@zachtaylor4473]

Sillycat 17 wdym why

[@MrChuckleslol]

You know, a lot of analysis videos say at the end “let us know if we missed anything”, but this one is so packed with stuff found and not said that there might as well be another new video about it all

[@sumanthwipt9507]

Good message❤

[@powerchordd3899]

This made me realize that the video is scary but has a really deep meaning to it

[@sefa2896]

Yea also nice profile picture

[@RealFearstoryline]

It's not scary you have learn about it

[@toothbat4578]

Ooooh its a wild tøp

[@twentyonesunflowers7467]

Lol I’m late but amazing profile picture!

[@giantdwarf69]

What makes it scarier u have 666 likes

[@justinlewis5534]

Did anyone notice that when the video opened up, his back was turned and there was no gun. But as he moved forward dancing and got closer to the man in the chair, he pulled a gun from behind his pants. It's like the gun came out of nowhere. That could symbolize how gun violence is so unpredictable.

[@jonathanmckay3654]

Or that America is so great at setting up shootings on it's citizens and civilians that nobody sees it until they want you all to see what they want. Which the truth is.Far away and its so well planned its flawless and backed by a powerful government that knows how to handle a massacre and slight of hand kinda thing.

[@ryno4ever433]

@@jonathanmckay3654 Dude, the government is not orchestrating the gun violence. Now you're just getting conspiratorial.

[@DocMustafa]

@@ryno4ever433 That’s what they want you to think.

[@lazaresofthewest7678]

@@DocMustafa what do you think

[@DocMustafa]

@@lazaresofthewest7678 I think it is a mixture of both. Both the government and the people are to blame. Mainly the government though. Switzerland’s gun laws are very similar to the more republican side of U.S., yet they have almost no gun violence. It’s the government failing the people...just as they fail the minorities.

[@400TK]

2:00 he made his hair clean and not messy for the white person but he made it all messy for the black person

[@mattmathematics3591]

This was 4 years ago but still amazing piece of art 👏

[@leannemartis7180]

There was so much thought put into every single second of this video. It isn't given enough credit wow

[@CERTAIND00M]

I agree with your first sentence but not the second. "This is America" won the Grammy for Album of the Year (and absolutely deserved it.) That song winning a *Grammy* was essentially the whitest people on Earth acknowledging the plight of black Americans. Quite the impressive accomplishment IMO.

[@koalabears980]

703 millions views, that's a lot of credit

[@DoreenMiller101]

concur. you could dissect every second of this video. it's so powerful conscious.

[@AjeeneTube]

4:12 cars colors represent colors of the american flag; Red, Blue, and white.

[@mr.misanthrope4062]

The cars not American made but Japanese

[@la-splitz-x1395]

Notice how the cars are blinking too and the driver door is open.This means that cops pull over black men and racially profiling them and arresting them and some trunks are open meaning police searched their cars

[@Profile.4]

@@la-splitz-x1395 lmao you people spend way too much time making shit up. They aren't even blinkers they're hazards you put on when you break down

[@deathmachinestar]

White and blue should be switched in your comment

[@f.j.williams6154]

@@Profile.4 "you people" wtf

[@xeronix9774]

the depth in this is crazy

[@omennemo8844]

The running in fear was the culmination of the whole message. Meaning it's time to get out before or run for your life. Which is it? Could it be both? I loved this song. I can't wait for Gambino to come out with another one like this.

[@kodjoblacka]

This song has more hidden messages than the Da Vinci Code.

[@faraway7733]

😂😂😂😂

[@voestalpine27]

*English teachers have entered the chat*

[@notrickastley6554]

Such a thrilling story it has..

[@sonicroachdoggjrraven3263]

Lmao

[@brianmcdowell8021]

Did yoo see da part wear we wuz kangzz n sheet

[@sophiaa.544]

The ending with Gambino's white eyes and white teeth appearing from the darkness is also a reference to portrayals of Black people's features (like that GIF) meant to look scary, but here it's Gambino who's scared for his life 😥

[@urmom-tx1mv]

@@rgrg5442 maybe try to look more into the video:)

[@oaksynia7353]

Are you talking about the guy laughing in the dark?

[@happytobehere4752]

@@rgrg5442 wow you're so......ignorant, how about you try to understand the meaning behind the video instead of saying nonsense?

[@broke5138]

@@urmom-tx1mv Ur mom

[@dontknowyoubutloveyou]

I love this take!

[@kellyewilson783]

I have watched that video at least 5 times and did not catch all of those connotation s Great video very expressive artist .

[@inmanueruyakushi]

THIS ! is literally an outstanding Art🎭✨

[@tylerdilbeck7141]

When he stops for 17 seconds it is for the 17 people who got killed in the parkland shooting

[@ElizabethGlasby]

i feel that is too deep into theory and a coinididence (idk how to spell that

[@sunleo6161]

Elizabeth Glasby coincidence

[@sunleo6161]

Elizabeth Glasby coin-ci-dence :)

[@imjustinfreeman]

When he says, ”This a celly, that’s a tool”, I think he’s referring to Stephen Clark, who was a black man gunned down by police because they mistook his phone for a gun. He’s telling you the difference

[@Talentshow342]

now that sounds good

[@ElephantJuice001]

Honestly I’m sure it can mean all of these things, don’t think it’s limited to one

[@scubed4328]

justin ur right cause its almost like hes playing both sides like the man was like "this is a cell phone" and the police are like "nah thats a gun"

[@jasonLJ]

It's also apparently a direct quote from that case. I think Clark said "This a celly" on bodycam and got the response "That's a tool" from law enforcement.

[@jayfergee_]

I think that line has a lot of different meanings whether he intended it to or not and it just adds to the powerfulness (is that a word?) of the song/video

[@phdfloppa7178]

Honestly out of all songs that portray a message, this is one of the best

[@kamisamalouie]

“tool” from the “celly” verse could also be interpreted as a shank or weapon, which inmates carry on them. this also insinuates that “cellphones” are deemed to be weapons

[@j.t.robins5896]

What about the fact that as long as Gambino is singing and dancing, he’s safe, but the moment he stops, and begins to “reflect,” he’s now being chased down?????

[@pauljohnson997]

J.T. Robins Woah...now I know what’s been bothering me this whole time! Like this just left me with an extremely anxious and eerie feeling. Thank you for this comment.

[@lsgthekid]

It has something to do with the fact that while Gambino is being an entertainer he is safe from harm, but as soon as he is not making music/filming, etc, he is just a normal black man who finds himself running from harm

[@Adrienne0317]

Great analysis!

[@faraboverubies7]

J.T. Robins yes!!!!!!!! I caught that too!!!

[@wawalens4841]

J.T. Robins so true

[@jacksonrynd1793]

You didn’t mention that the people with cell phones had something covering their mouths. Seems to me like it’s some sort of rag. Whatever it is, it’s representing how people will document anything with their phones but never speak out and stop anything from happening.

[@maryannforbes3019]

Jackson Rynd I didn’t notice that

[@JaSmineLea217]

Jackson Rynd ooo deep

[@emirotundo3848]

This deserves more likes

[@Bloodanna]

It is also worth noting that the cloths covering their mouths are all white. This could just be to make them stand out. Or it could be a nod to the fact that they are witnessing and recording all of the violence yet cannot speak out about their own experiences due to the covering of racism with a pure image. We only listen when it is white faces telling the stories.

[@landenalexandersma]

Jackson Rynd brilliant observation!

[@jamesgibson4624]

Can we get a this is America part 2 with the recent issues?

[@BeastNationXIV]

It just hit me after seeing this music video a few times: CG is playing America....but the way his antics are hitting and his disconnected, chaotic nature.... That's Mayhem (played by Dean Winters) in the Allstate commercial.

[@mikaylabarbaro6199]

Gambino was running at the last scene to escape from the cops. They chase him after lighting a blunt but they don't worry about the bigger issue. Like shootings, suicides and racial profiling.

[@tiffanypersaud3518]

Mikayla Barbaro Right. Wow.

[@Konguy101]

Have you noticed how those people running after him run kinda weirdly? Like they're pretending to be gorillas or something, with their arms out and curved to the side. It's really creepy...

[@HakotaaVR]

Found that person

[@YpsitheFlintsider]

Eric Garner

[@mikaylabarbaro6199]

Thanks so much for the likes guys. You are amazing I hope you all have an amazing day. 😊

[@hgfxjnn]

Omg! He really did his homework to make this video more meaningful. Absolutely this video deserves a Grammy award for realism

[@joshkkg1519]

ah yes, the prestigious Grammy award for realism.

[@UdoNwauwa]

donald exactly

[@evanbarton52]

Ehhhhh, I kinda hate the whole “America is bad” message that some people may receive out of this. That is of course if this Insider is true

[@hgfxjnn]

Evan Barton I feel you on your opinion. But American has different types of people. And that what makes Americana so beautiful. But with so many people in this country comes with different backgrounds, beliefs, and political veiws. So we as American people need to take care of our country, and stop hating one another. Stop the racism. But Truth is we won't. Because racism has been taught, and brainwashed in some of our minds from early age. Thinking that one race is more Superior than the other. No race, and no one is higher than God. Whether we believe in God or not... We was created all by one some spirit... Some kind of entity.

[@ezzzmoney8978]

America is one of the most shitty first world countries you can live in

[@henrykstanikowski7049]

This music video is simply an amazing piece of artwork

[@cebosityata8457]

The analogy of this video is descriptive and educational

[@ishandraws8884]

The fact they actually credited the original tweets for the breakdown that they didnt do is actually really sweet. Alot of people on youtube would act like they broke that down themselves.

[@lyricslemonade3000]

Gun

[@lyricslemonade3000]

Donald glover say

[@id8207]

*The masks over the kids face reveals how people see the truth but are to afraid to say it*

[@Leetanya_c]

ツwhy u bullie me so true

[@l3gacy]

how bout you use the right form of “too” before you start getting too deep, Shakespeare

[@eleanorpotter462]

@@l3gacy lmao they aren't getting too deep, the whole video is deep.

[@cherds7983]

ツwhy u bullie me purty smart

[@secretivebum1675]

l3gacy why you hating

[@salleyibrahim6393]

I really appreciate the explanation of the music I do understand the music more than b4 thanks sister

[@chrisnelson3691]

I have to admit, that song really gets you good.

[@iRushil]

What hit me the most was the terror in his eyes when he's running away at the end. It made me wonder, "imagine the terror of running for your life."

[@paulaanderson9428]

Wow! Good perspective. Thanks

[@adamcummings20]

Even if you disagree with his interpretation of America you have to admit this is a work of art and took a lot of effort.

[@dominionofme3462]

No. Its not a work of art to falsely symbolize life in America just like rest of his hollywood figures that praise each other while remaining disconnected from the masses.

[@levelup2223]

The director and/or team should win awards based on it

[@Kalahee]

Contestation is always a one sided view. Activist or lobbyist will always push their agenda forward. Thing is, it is a reality, not the whole reality, but still there.

[@caramel7050]

The video is great, but the song, not so much, IMO. I guess I just can't get past the trap and auto tune.

[@xocheerle6]

work of art? shooting people and giving people ideas is not a work of art.. I could of thought of this in my sleep ... stop glorifying this stuff your brainwashed

[@sai-codes]

English teacher : Finally a worthy opponent. Our battle will be legendary

[@finchsparrowbird]

The schoolkids dancing with him aren't only dancing South African moves, they're also wearing common South African school uniforms.

[@therealsoulproduct]

Here's what also might have gone over some of your heads. The church choir represented a hopeful spirit and sense of optimism with the Black community. But once they're all gunned down, the spirit is taken away. Also, listen to the music the guitarist is playing in the beginning of the song. Sounds like some pretty, uplifting, African high life mixed in. But once the guitarist is shot dead, the song switches to a doomy, haunting Electro-Trap sound. This could mean the destruction of good, traditional music from the Diaspora and overtaken by this bleak, modern sound. Very deep video.

[@trollzz1051]

I didn't think about it that way

[@punishindegree9536]

America is a dark place

[@emmanuelmubiru7200]

I agree, death penalties like that are during the revolutionary war.

[@Andyatl2002]

There was also a church shooting of black people as well

[@Galaxy-rj1kj]

I think it also meant how blacks praise Jesus a white god in hopes of that solving racism just to be gunned down in church

[@coffeemomplanrepeat7856]

I think the “celly” part could also represent how people record the bad stuff that goes on instead of actually doing something to help out. The guys holding the phone were moving their phones and there is bad stuff happening below them. As if they were recording what was happening.

[@jonydiesel7716]

To support this idea: The place right on their backs is burning while they record the entretainer.

[@michawill6599]

Yeah and their face masks like they didn't want to be contaminated by it all

[@joonieyg9124]

Blue Wolf no you did good staying where you were. Maybe next time go inside your house and lock all your doors and windows. Don’t ever go try to stop criminals because your life is worth more than being a hero. There were cops chasing him down too so they were already trying to stop him. Don’t feel bad for not doing anything because you’re not the police. You can’t defend yourself against him if he were to hurt you. Just try to stay safe

[@Bigolives561]

1:12 the lil pose he did was apart of Jim Crow laws

[@Dijjon11]

The Jim Crowe facial expressions are blowing my mind