I liked it a lot. Donald Glover is a talented guy. Also isn't it strange to tell someone they can live elsewhere if they're unhappy with, e.g., race relations, police community interactions, etc? Like, afaik, these are pretty legitimate problems that we shouldn't delegitimize, and that was even before trump took office.
The problems have been there, are there, and will continue to be there. But anger and hate begets anger and hate. Kindness, understanding, and love are the kinds of things that unite and inspire people to do better. The video did not inspire in me those feelings. I get the same old we vs. them feeling .
People are free to voice their concerns. In fact, the video is for international consumption. Something other places in the world would not allow. Hence my comment.
Because we can. If things were so bad here one could start a new life in the UK, or South Africa, or Australia. Hell, move to Canada. If you speak other languages, then there are more possibilities. I lived and was born in Mexico, and chose to become an American. Worked hard for it. I know very well it is not perfect here. But I appreciate it.
I also think that peace and love are great, but when you have certain groups that are discriminated against, preaching peace and love delegitimize their experiences. It also isn't a sufficient motivation to change the status quo. Nor is this video of course, but I don't think that was it's purpose.
Also agree they are world problems. But race relations in America exist within a cultural context and history and even current political climate that differs from those in other countries so they can't be thoght of or perhaps even worked on in the same ways.
Any case, point is well taken man. Certainly don't want to put words in your mouth and I don't think we necessarily see things drastically differently, just offering my response to the video and your post.
This: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casta caused Mexico to go through very real unending internal wars. The likes of which I don't think America has seen. It is still a problem today.
I know. I'm just arguing. I don't like social injustice. It should be called. But I would much rather see more black engineers, developers, and scientists, than social protesters.
I've seen good black medical doctors and lawyers. A first cousin of my wife is married to black engineer and they are doing great. We visited them a few years ago. I want to see much more of that.
Some of my blood suffered great injustice. Some of my blood were the ones inflicting injustice. Some of my blood were neither. Ironically they are all my blood. But I am not them and I can only speak for myself.
1) comparing injustices can't be done, and the sociedad de castas obv sux. 2) society with black working professionals and social protesters aren't mutually exclusive or incompatible. 3) if there are fewer minorities practicing law or medicine or engineering, that's a reflection of the societal problem. 4) I'm glad you have friends who are married to black engineers lol 5) I <3 U and I'm just arguing.
Agreed. He might not have the voice of an angle Curtis Mayfield or Marvin Gaye had. His style is different. The way he presents existing problems makes you think. People should think more and art can make that happen. Remember Pink Floyd with "Another Brick In The Wall"? The world is changing again...
Late, but: while I totally agree that these are world problems, America is in a unique position, globally; they're the bleeding edge of pop culture, and given that it's as ethnically and culturally diverse as it is, it's unsurprising that the USA is in the world's eye whenever you hear of hate crimes and the like. Not that it doesn't happen A LOT elsewhere, only that it's more visible in the USA.
As for the This is America video, for one, I'll admit it was shocking to watch, which speaks for Glover's showmanship. The symbolism was so on the nose it was like a suckerpunch, but his performance and the attention to detail is laudable. It was an okay listen I think? Sorry, not my usual genre :))
@Lyer25 I am more of the opinion that this video is more of an American phenomenon. Amongst first world countries it seems to be an outlier when it comes to racial tension and violence.
When I watched it, I was mainly thankful that it completely didn't strike a nerve with me, because if it did, it would have been a disturbing reflection on the places I've lived in.
I'll have to move this to a thread. I know it's somewhat politics. But it's a music video. And like all music, things will always strike a nerve or resonate. It's part of music.
Read these "rules" AND introduce
yourself before your first post
Being true to what the artists intended
(opinion / entertainment piece)
Comments on Profile Post by ultrabike