Dr. Bezio’s choice to have us watch the music videos for “Formation” by Beyonce and “This is America” by Childish Gambino was a great and necessary one. I personally usually find an affinity with music because of its beat, tune, or mood, instead of the lyrics. Often times I find that the words fade away, making it harder to discern the messages latent within the music unless a piece is listened to many times. The use of a music video allows for another dimension for the viewer to learn and appreciate the messages the piece is pushing. The images tell their own story just as the lyrics and tune do. When taken separately each tells a unique story, but when they are combined the listener/viewer can see the whole picture.

“This is America” is a song I had listened too many times before this assignment. I understood the message of the song that being black oppression and violence towards the African-American community being ingrained in American society. However, watching the music video for the first time caused me to have a greater appreciation of the message. The visual stimulus makes the gun-shot sounds more powerful and Donald Glover’s cheerful, relaxed smile and posture creates a stark contrast to the lyrics and actions depicted. The suddenness of Childish Gambino shooting the guitar player, and later the choir is stunning. Without the visual stimulus, those actions are far less personal simply because we have no idea who is shot when only listening to the song. By putting faces (smiling ones at that) to the sounds of gun fire that inevitably signify tragedy, the listener cannot think of the violence perpetrated against the black community as abstract. Additionally, the calm manor in which Childish Gambino carries out the killings is disturbing. That is obviously the point. His expressions make it seem as if the tragedies are common everyday occurrences that should not surprise. Unfortunately that is the reality we live in right now. While police shootings still surprise the nation when the occur, the surprise and shock is lessened by its repetitiveness. Childish Gambino does a great job at highlighting the complacency that the majority of America has towards solving the issues outlined in his music video. It is now up to the nation to understand that America should not stand for violence and hate.