THIS IS AMERICA

music as a social statement

In class, we have discussed how music often contains powerful messages. We sampled music from Kendrick
Lamar and learned how music can be a form of literature. We listened to Bon Iver, as well, to find how music
can bring about certain emotions. Finally, each of you worked on understanding and analyzing songs of
your choice. Through Lamar’s music we were introduced to social aspects that can exist in an artist’s music.

Kendrick Lamar, in his song “DNA,” discusses the black-experience and shares his own story through both
the music and video. And while it is important to listen to, and understand everyone’s stories, they become
more meaningful through multiple representations. To this end, we will be analyzing the song and video
“This is America” by Childish Gambino, and explore how Donald Glover’s song paints a vision of the black
experience that, in contemporary culture, is multifaceted and the subject of much political debate. This
analysis is meant to help transition from learning about music analysis to exploring social issues that exist in
America.

Understanding social issues can be difficult. A few guidelines before we start:

(1) Discussing social issues in an academic setting provides us the power to address them in logical and
open ways. It gives validity to the discussion through analysis and accurate information finding, which allows
for honest discourse. (2) Through this lesson, make an attempt to understand the video and the content
with an open mind. (3) Also, it is important to understand that individuals, cultures, and other groups all
have “stories” that may be different from our own. This does not make them wrong; only different. Keep this
in mind as you move forward in this lesson, and for the social issues unit.

Each team has been assigned certain aspects of the video to analyze (dance, lyrics, and symbolism). Please
refer to the next page for instruction. You will share your findings with the other teams at the end.

Lessons built with help from Katy Goodman (katgoodman.com)

 VIRAL DANCE ANALYSIS
Your assignment: the goal in your team is to analyze the dance in the video, using the article below as a
reference.
• Before watching the video on your own, respond to questions 1-2.
• Once you are ready, watch the video once more and take notes on what you noticed about the
dance.
• Fill out the chart with significant detail and record your research. You must read two articles. I have
provided one article, and an example of how to record your information. Articles don’t need to
only discuss your topic, but should address it, in part. Not all explanations need to be from an
article. Practice making your own analysis.
• Be prepared to share with the class.
• Once finished with presentations, fill out the Whole Class Music Analysis sheet.

1. What is your initial reaction to the video? Why? Bring it at least three adjectives in how this
makes you feel. Don’t think too much here, just write.

2. What’s the big deal: Why do you think this video has such a visceral effect? What makes it
different than common music videos?
DANCE / BODY LANGUAGE MESSAGE, SIGNIFICANCE, MEANING
(WHERE FOUND / DESCRIPTION) (TEXT-TO-WORLD CONNECTION)

Facial Expressions:

Distraction:

School-children Dancing:

Body Language:

SOURCE TITLE NEWS SOURCE

Why the Dancing Makes ‘This is America’ So The Atlantic
Uncomfortable to Watch
 LYRICAL ANALYSIS
Your assignment: the goal in your team is to analyze the lyrics in the song, using the lyrics below as a
reference.
• Before watching the video on your own, respond to questions 1-2.
• Once you are ready, watch the video once more and take notes on what you noticed about the
lyrics.
• Read the lyrics on the separate page.
• Find lyrics you want to discuss or that stand out to you. Fill out the chart with significant detail and
record your research. You must read two articles. I have provided one article, and an example of
how to record your information. Articles don’t need to only discuss your topic, but should address
it, in part. Not all explanations need to be from an article. Practice making your own analysis.
• Be prepared to share with the class.
• Once finished with presentations, fill out the Whole Class Music Analysis sheet.

1. What is your initial reaction to the video? Why? Bring it at least three adjectives in how this
makes you feel. Don’t think too much here, just write.

2. What’s the big deal: Why do you think this video has such a visceral effect? What makes it
different than common music videos?
LYRICS AND SOUND MESSAGE, SIGNIFICANCE, MEANING
(WHERE FOUND / DESCRIPTION) (TEXT-TO-WORLD CONNECTION)

SOURCE TITLE NEWS SOURCE

This is America Genius Lyrics (genius.com)
“This is America” by Childish This is America (woo)

Gambino Don't catch you slippin' up [Chorus: Childish Gambino, Slim

Don't catch you slippin' up Jxmmi, & Young Thug]

[Intro: Choir] Look what I'm whippin' up This is America (woo, ayy)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Don't catch you slippin' up (woo,

Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away [Verse 1: Childish Gambino, Blocboy woo, don't catch you slippin', now)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah JB, Slim Jxmmi, Young Thug, & 21 Don't catch you slippin' up (ayy,

Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away Savage] woah)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah This is America (skrrt, skrrt, woo) Look what I'm whippin' up (Slime!)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away Don't catch you slippin' up (ayy) This is America (yeah, yeah)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Look at how I'm livin' now Don't catch you slippin' up (woah,

Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away Police be trippin' now (woo) ayy)

Yeah, this is America (woo, ayy) Don't catch you slippin' up (ayy, woo)

[Bridge: Childish Gambino & Young Guns in my area (word, my area) Look what I'm whippin' up (ayy)

Thug] I got the strap (ayy, ayy)

We just wanna party I gotta carry 'em [Verse 2: Childish Gambino, Quavo,

Party just for you Yeah, yeah, I'ma go into this (ugh) Young Thug, & 21 Savage]

We just want the money Yeah, yeah, this is guerilla (woo) Look how I'm geekin' out (hey)

Money just for you Yeah, yeah, I'ma go get the bag I'm so fitted (I'm so fitted, woo)

I know you wanna party Yeah, yeah, or I'ma get the pad I'm on Gucci (I'm on Gucci)

Party just for me Yeah, yeah, I'm so cold like yeah I'm so pretty (yeah, yeah)

Girl, you got me dancin' (yeah, girl, (yeah) I'm gon' get it (ayy, I'm gon' get it)

you got me dancin') I'm so dope like yeah (woo) Watch me move (blaow)

Dance and shake the frame We gon' blow like yeah (straight up, This a celly (ha)

We just wanna party (yeah) uh) That's a tool (yeah)

Party just for you (yeah) [Refrain: Choir & Childish Gambino] On my Kodak (woo, Black)

We just want the money (yeah) Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, tell Ooh, know that (yeah, know that,

Money just for you (you) somebody hold on)

I know you wanna party (yeah) You go tell somebody Get it (get it, get it)

Party just for me (yeah) Grandma told me Ooh, work it (21)

Girl, you got me dancin' (yeah, girl, Get your money, Black man (get your Hunnid bands, hunnid bands,

you got me dancin') money) hunnid bands (hunnid bands)

Dance and shake the frame (you) Get your money, Black man (get your Contraband, contraband,

money) contraband (contraband)

[Chorus: Childish Gambino] Get your money, Black man (get I got the plug on Oaxaca (woah)

This is America your, Black man) They gonna find you that blocka

Don't catch you slippin' up Get your money, Black man (get (blaow)

Don't catch you slippin' up your, Black man)

Look what I'm whippin' up Black man

[Refrain: Choir, Childish Gambino, & No probably ain't life to a dog

Young Thug] For a big dog

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, tell

somebody

America, I just checked my following

list and

You go tell somebody

You mothaf***as owe me

Grandma told me

Get your money, Black man (Black

man)

Get your money, Black man (Black

man)

Get your money, Black man (get

your, Black man)

Get your money, Black man (get

your, Black man)

Black man

One, two, get down

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, tell

somebody

You go tell somebody

Grandma told me, "Get your money"

Get your money, Black man (Black

man)

Get your money, Black man (Black

man)

Get your money, Black man (Black

man)

Get your money, Black man (Black

man)

Black man

You just a Black man in this world

You just a barcode, ayy

You just a Black man in this world

Drivin' expensive foreigns, ayy

You just a big dawg, yeah

I kenneled him in the backyard

 METAPHOR AND SYMBOL ANALYSIS
Your assignment: the goal in your team is to analyze the visual aspects of the video for symbolism and
metaphors. Hint: you will have to watch the video a few times—keep an eye on the background.

• Before watching the video on your own, respond to questions 1-2.

• Once you are ready, watch the video once more and take notes on what you notice about
symbols and actions in the background.
• Continue to re-watch when necessary, pausing and filling out the graphic organizer.
• Fill out the chart with significant detail and record your research. You must read two articles. I have
provided one article, and an example of how to record your information. Articles don’t need to
only discuss your topic, but should address it, in part. Not all explanations need to be from an
article. Practice making your own analysis.
• Be prepared to share with the class.
• Once finished with presentations, fill out the Whole Class Music Analysis sheet.

1. What is your initial reaction to the video? Why? Bring it at least three adjectives in how this
makes you feel. Don’t think too much here, just write.

2. What’s the big deal: Why do you think this video has such a visceral effect? What makes it
different than common music videos?
SYMBOLISM MESSAGE, SIGNIFICANCE, MEANING
(WHERE FOUND / DESCRIPTION) (TEXT-TO-WORLD CONNECTION)

Gun carried off in silk cloth:

Old cars:

People in rafters with phones:

Pause in music
(hint: count the seconds):

Erratic beats at the end (last verse):

Horseman:

SOURCE TITLE NEWS SOURCE

‘This is America’: Breaking Down Childish Washington Post
Gambino’s Powerful New Music Video
 Whole class and video analysis
Final assignment: After listening to all groups present, get in your group and discuss the following questions. Write
your results to share in the upcoming whole class discussion.

1. The video conveys a strong juxtaposition between opulent superficial lifestyles, gleeful dance/church
song, and violence accompanied by utter chaos. What purpose does this juxtaposition serve?

2. How does modern culture play a role in the video (see the background images)?

3. In the video, a man falls to his death as the gleeful dance ensues. What message does this convey?

4. How is Donald Glover’s video relevant in today’s discussion of social issues? Consider what Glover’s
story is and how it may be true to a broad audience.