Name: _ _ Date: Sep. 24 DAY Core: = "This Is America" Is A Powerful Music Video By Childish o ambi ‘ 7 a Gambino lowe \ Ty - u > le While hosting "Saturday Night Live” on May 5, _ Donald Glover dropped a music video for the new single "This Is America” by his rapper alter ego Childish Gambino. Watch it once, and your eyes will be drawn to his movements and expressions on his face. Watch it again, but focus on the chaos in the background. Watch it a third time, and the reason for this contrast becomes increasingly clear. Since this is Glover we're talking about, there's a dream-like clement to all that happens. For the video, he teamed up again with Hiro Murai, who has directed a number of “Atlanta” episodes on TV which Glover stars in. In "This Is America," Glover and Murai pack every frame with references to racism and related violence in the United States. The video racked up more than 30 million views on YouTube in 48 hours. Sleuths among those viewers have taken to social media to share their interpretations. Let's break it down. Ready, Set, Action: Let It Roll "This Is America” begins with a man seated in a warehouse, playing a guitar. Many misidentified him as the father of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager killed in 2012, The man is actually Calvin the Second, a musician from Los Angeles, California. On Instagram, Calvin the Second said his role in the video meant he "got to bea part of history.” ‘The camera soon finds Glover. He stands behind Calvin the Second, whose head has been covered with a bag. Glover pulls a gun from his back pocket and shoots him. On Twitter, several have said the way he stands while holding the weapon mimics the minstrel character Jim Crow. In the late 1800s, people began using the phrase "Jim Crow Laws" to describe post-slavery segregation laws. (6) Glover's off-beat dancing was choreographed by Sherrie Silver. It distracts from everything happening in the background, which seems intentional. Paired with exaggerated expressions, Glover's movements further the connection to minstrel shows. A minstrel show was entertainment popularized in the early 1800s that mocked black people in the United States. The stock characters were usually played by white people in blackface. Blackface is a form of theatrical makeup used predominantly by non-black performers to represent an ‘exaggerated representation of a black person. This is racist. Even though some all-black groups existed, they still performed under white directors. Don't Turn Your Head, You Might Miss Something Glover's character appears to represent how white American culture oppresses and at times persecutes black people. The character kills several innocent performers In one scene, a choir joyfully sings, "Get your money, black man, get your money." Meanwhile, Glover slips from behind a door and dances in front of the choir. He is handed an assault weapon, shoots all 10 singers and walks away. The image evokes the 2015 mass shooting in a Charleston, South Carolina, church. The self-described white supremacist Dylan Roof murdered nine black attendees of a prayer service. The Post and Courier newspaper in Charleston spoke to people who live there. They had mixed reactions to the music video's violence. One criticized Glover for contributing to the overuse of "traumatic violence against black people” to send an artistic message. However, Reverend Sharon Risher, the daughter of shooting vietim Bthel Lance, said the video sends.a message that death is made to seem normal and acceptable in black culture.“That was America represented through the lens of a black man," Risher said. "It makes you pause and think, "How are you going to survive being black in America?" Telling A Story In The Background As Glover tells listeners to "watch me move," people in the background are chased by cops. A police car is parked in the viewers’ line of sight, and orange glares suggest fires burning throughout the warehouse. ‘The camera quickly glides past young people with their phones out as Glover says, "This a celly, that's a tool.” Cellphones have been used to record police officers shooting or hurting black people. ‘As Glover continues to dance throughout the chaos, a hooded figure rides past on a white horse. Some on Twitter have drawn connections to a Bible story. In the story, death rides on a pale horse with hell following behind. Calvin the Second plays his guitar with the bag on his head as Glover climbs atop a parked car. All the cars pictured are from the 1980s,and 1990s. In a surprise cameo, singer SZA sits on top of one of the cars. Most current music videos show off the latest luxury vehicles. Some Twitter users had theories about the outdated cars. They said they represent the "stalled socioeconomic and political mobility” of black Americans, saying they have a hard time improving their living conditions and status. Video Makes References To L.A. Riots, "Get Out" Film Others thought the cars were a reference to vehicles seen during the 1992 Los Angeles riots. When a jury didn't find a group of white police officers guilty of using excessive force while arresting and beating a blackman named Rodney King, it sparked days of violent unrest in L.A. ~ ‘The video ends with Glover chased down a dark hallway. Some see the darkness as a reference to the Sunken Place, a mental prison where the Armitage family matriarch sends black people in Jordan Peele's film "Get Out.” ‘Whether this reference was intended, the video makes clear how black people have been trapped or harmed by American culture. Glover's character keeps the darkness away by acting within white-imposed boundaries for most of the video. "This Is America” is a painful yet perfectly timed display of artistic genius.Name: Date: Core: Directions: Select the answer choice that best represents your response. 1. Which of the following quotes best describes the reason why the artist used violence in his video? (RI7.1) Calvin the Second plays his guitar with the bag on his head as Glover climbs atop a parked car. ll the cars pictured are from the 1980s and 1990s. &_ The video ends with Glover chased down a dark hallway. Some see the darkness asa reference to the ‘Sunken Place, a mental prison where the Armitage family matriarch sends black people in Jordan Peele's film "Get Out” Glover's character appears to represent how white American culture oppresses and at times persecutes black people. The character kills several innocent performers. Y\ He stands behind Calvin the Second, whose head has been covered with a bag. Glover pulls gun from his, baek pocket and shoots him. 2. Which quote from the selection describes the reason Childish Gambino included old cars at the end of his video? (RI74) @ They said they represent the "stalled socioeconomic and political mobility” of black Americans, saying they have a hard time improving their living conditions and status. Whether this reference was intended, the video makes clear how black people have been trapped or harmed by American culture. It distracts from everything happening in the background, which seems intentional. A police car is parked in the viewers' line of sight, and orange glares suggest fires burning throughout the warehouse, 3. Whatis the central idea of this article? (RI7.2) “Thisis America” was a music video with many hidden messages performed by Childish Gambino. “Thisis America” was a very popular music video that many people enjoyed listening to. “This is America” was performed live by Childish Gambino at Saturday Night Live && “This is America” references popular movies, such as Jordan Peele’s movie, "Get Out". 4. Which quotation summarizes the central dea ofthis selection? (RI 7.2) ‘As Glover continues to dance throughout the chaos, a hooded figure rides past on a white horse. Some on ‘Twitter have drawn connections toa Bible sry Some see the darkness as a reference to the Sunken Place, a mental prison where the Armitage family matriarch sends black people in Jordan Peele's film "Get Out” @ Arminstrel stow was entertainment popularized inthe early 800s that mocked black people inthe United States. The stock characters were usually played by white people in blackface. M Jn “This Te America," Glover and Mura pack every frame with references to racism and related violence in 1 United States. 5. Based on the selection, which statement best explains the relationship between Gambino's dance moves, the church choir and the old cars? (RI7.3) : Each represents the historial effets and impacts of oppression on black culture. Each served as props during the production of the music video 7D They were al filmed at the same time for the music video Xk Fach idea was selected by Childish Gambino but Twitter does not believe him. 6. In paragraph 6, what is the meaning of the word predorninantly? (RI7.4) ‘primarily 3 seldomly remarkably YX occasionally 7. Inthe section titled, “Video Makes References to L.A. Riots, “Get Out” Film,” what does the word sparked suggest to the reader? (RI7.4) “&, The arrest and beating of Rodney King influenced other police offers to act accordingly. ‘The arrest and beating of Rodney King dissolved hate crimes in America. ‘The arrest and beating of Rodney King ignited tensions that were already present. ‘Q The arrest and beating of Rodney King created sympathy.