The lyrics of Childish Gambino’s “This is America” references to many violent events throughout recent years and the overall problems and issues colored people face due to racism.
“Look how I’m livin’ now
Police be trippin’ now”
Childish Gambino references to police brutality in America through this quote. It is a common stereotype that police, specifically white officers, are racist towards blacks. In 2016, African American males aged 15 to 34 were nine times more likely to be killed by police than any other race.
“Guns in my area
I got the strap
I gotta carry’em”
Childish Gambino includes these lyrics to portray that in order to survive, a colored person must carry a gun because of not only self defense against police excessive force, but also because it is heavily distributed in African American neighborhoods.
African Americans are the second highest demographic group who owns a gun.
“Look how I’m geekin’ out
I’m so fitted
I’m on Gucci I’m so pretty
I’m gon’ get it”
By referencing to Gucci, “pretty”, and “fitted”, Childish Gambino mimics those who are distracted by material goods from ongoing social issues that affect them. Many people of the current generation are fixed on their social medias, trying to stay on trend, which eventually makes them miss the real news of violence and discrimination.
“This a celly
That’s a tool”
Childish Gambino references to the shooting of Stephon Clark who was shot eight times and killed in his own backyard because police believed he was responsible for robberies in the local area and was armed with “tools” or guns, in which was just a cellphone or a “celly.” This section of the lyrics shows how police do not fully investigate the scene and use their power to kill colored people if the police suppose that they are holding a gun.
“You just a barcode, ayy
You just a black man in this world
Drivin’ expensive foreigns, ayy”
Childish Gambino says, “You just a black man in this world” to show that despite an African American being rich or scholarly, in the end, they are still a “black man,” a colored person, and struggle to overcome racism in American society.
ly white officers, are racist towards blacks. In 2016, African American males aged 15 to 34 were nine times more likely to be killed by police than any other race.
