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Donald Glover’s shocking ‘This Is America’ video tackles racism, gun violence
Donald Glover had quite the weekend.
The actor, who has been riding high these days with both his series “Atlanta” and his role as young Lando Calrissian in the forthcoming “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” both hosted “Saturday Night Live” and was the musical guest as his rap/R&B alter ego, Childish Gambino.
Glover as Gambino won a Grammy this year for best traditional R & B performance for his song “Redbone” and premiered two new songs on “SNL,” titled “Saturday” and “This Is America.”
But it was the video he released for the latter after his “SNL” performance that created a major buzz.
“This Is America” lit up social media after its debut.
Here’s what you need to know about the music video that has many hailing Glover/Gambino as a genius:
You will need to watch it more than once
Directed by “Atlanta” director Hiro Murai, the video is pretty surreal and packed full of messages.
It’s pretty expansive and filmed in a warehouse, which allows for lots of action.
As much as your eye will be drawn to Glover as a shirtless Gambino, pay close attention also to what is happening in the background.
It takes on gun violence in America
Murders occur, but the guns are treated more delicately than human lives in the video — a strong statement given the current debate over gun control.
The imagery also has sparked conversation about several other themes including police brutality, social media and what people are really paying attention to in the United States.
“The fact that Childish Gambino’s ‘This is America’ tackles police brutality, gun violence, media misdirection, and the use of African-Americans as a brand shield, all while dancing in Jim Crow-style caricature, shows a transcendence or mere performance and demands attention,” one person tweeted.
The fact that Childish Gambino’s “This is America” tackles police brutality, gun violence, media misdirection, and the use of African-Americans as a brand shield, all while dancing in Jim Crow-style caricature, shows a transcendence or mere performance and demands attention.
— Jon Spence (@reallyjonspence) May 7, 2018
About that dancing
Fans have been dissecting the various dance moves in the video, with many determining they represent an overall distraction from the chaos that is happening in the background.
Childish Gambino’s dance moves distracted all of us from the craziness that was happening in the background of the video & that’s exactly the point he’s trying to make…….#ThisIsAmerica pic.twitter.com/7o9e0XBGld
— Hurt Cobain (@D_Breezy_) May 6, 2018.
There’s a cameo you might miss
Yes, that was singer SZA sitting on a car toward the end of the video.
On Sunday, the singer Instagrammed some photos of herself on set.
Her guest appearance could be a clue for the pair working together.
We Speak Entertainment
OFFICIAL TRAILER RELEASED FOR “CALL ME MICKY,” EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY DOMINIQUE JACKSON
New 22-minute documentary short follows Micky Angelo Petrillo after transitioning at 59, with the acclaimed POSE star helping bring his story to the screen
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — NEW YORK: The official trailer for CALL ME MICKY, a new documentary short Executive Produced by acclaimed POSE star Dominique Jackson and directed by Andrew Rasmussen, has been released on YouTube ahead of the film’s upcoming festival run.

The 22-minute documentary follows Micky Angelo Petrillo, a larger-than-life New Jersey native who transitioned at 59 and is now discovering what comes next.
Rather than presenting transition as the conclusion of Petrillo’s story, CALL ME MICKY focuses on the life unfolding afterward — through Pride celebrations, open mics, friendships, storytelling and Petrillo’s increasingly public embrace of the man he fought decades to become.
Jackson also appears in the film, joining Petrillo for an intimate on-camera conversation about identity, visibility and what it means to finally live openly as yourself.

Internationally recognized for her commanding portrayal of Elektra on FX’s groundbreaking series POSE, Jackson is an actress, model, activist and producer who also served as an Executive Producer of the acclaimed documentary I’M YOUR VENUS, which premiered at the Tribeca Festival.
Petrillo is the author of the memoir Walking the Earth: First as a Woman, Then a Man.
While CALL ME MICKY captures one chapter of Petrillo’s much larger story, the film offers an intimate portrait of a man discovering that becoming yourself is not the ending — it may only be the beginning.

CALL ME MICKY is produced by CARDINAL, a New York City–based creative production company, and directed by CARDINAL co-founder Andrew Rasmussen.
The film begins its festival run this fall, with additional screenings and festival announcements forthcoming.
Watch the official trailer for CALL ME MICKY:
For more information, visit https://www.CallMeMickyFilm.com
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