A Rhetorical Analysis Of Childish Gambino

Racial issues have been prevalent in the United States since the beginning, due to the history of violent colonization, the European view of colored inferiority, and the institution of slavery. All of these events left an enormous legacy on the notable racial relations of today. Representation in both the political and social realm are important in establishing the identity and unification of African-Americans. Gun violence and police brutality are terrorizing black communities and igniting giant social movements across the country. Usage of technology and social media have become influential components of the demonstrations and broadcasting of injustices. A recently released and politically charged music video by the actor and musician, Childish Gambino, embodies all of these contemporary issues and many more. …show more content…
Gambino spreads his message through shocking, sudden, and heartless shootings of people in his music video to show the apathetic nature of the unjust murders of black people throughout the decades. One group he violently shoots down is a gospel choir, which represents the terrible 2014 gunned attack in a church in Charleston, South Carolina, where nine innocent African-Americans died. After these merciless shootings by Gambino, the guns he uses are carefully placed onto a cloth and swiftly taken off camera. This is another political statement regarding the debate on gun control and how some people are so keen on keeping their arms, even after the many incidences of tragic deaths in neighborhoods, schools, and other public places. Finally, after Gambino’s first killing in the beginning of the music video, the music immediately changes and the tone goes from lighthearted to serious, with people running and cop cars visible in the background. This represents the sparking of protests after so many cases of gun