Research:
I wanted to research more into the music made by Childish Gambino especially the lyrics of his song 'This is America' because I wanted to understand if it really is a protest to what is happening and what has happened to America.
What is happening in America?
Black Power (1960's-70's)
Black Power was a revolutionary movement that occurred in the 1960s and 1970s. It emphasized racial pride, economic empowerment, and the creation of political and cultural institutions. During this era, there was a rise in the demand for black history courses, a greater embrace of African culture, and a spread of raw artistic expression displaying the realities of African Americans.
https://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/black-power
Black Power Salute: Why it matters 50 years on:
16 October 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of one of the most iconic moments in sport, African-American history and the civil rights movement.
On this day in 1968, at the Olympic Games in Mexico City, two black U.S. medallists - Tommie Smith and John Carlos - took to the victory stand with their heads bowed and eyes closed, their hands raised with black gloves, and fists clenched.
Their "black power salute" during the playing of the American national anthem was a silent protest by the athletes against racial injustice. Their actions were seen as a controversial act, combining sports and politics.
Why did they feel they needed to make a statement and salute?
There was a lot of racism in the United States, where black men and women were punished, segregated and hurt because of the colour of their skin. Civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr had been killed only months before the Mexico games and the USA was gripped by civil rights protests.
The symbolism of the political statement made by Smith and Carlos had been well planned. The two athletes wore black socks with no shoes to represent "black poverty in a racist America," while Smith wore a black scarf around his neck, standing for black pride.
Carlos also wore beads for those who died due to slavery and raised his left fist to represent black unity. Smith raised his right fist for black power in the U.S. Together, the men represented unity and power.
Peter Norman, the white Australian sprinter who won the 200m silver medal stood in solidarity with Smith and Carlos. He is often described as the 'forgotten man' during the protest, but he had a role to play too.
After learning of the American athletes' plans, Norman is reported to have said: "I will stand with you."
Norman wore a human rights badge on the podium in a public display of support. The Australian was punished for his role in the protest at the time and did not compete at another Olympic Games.
Smith and Carlos also faced punishment and were suspended by the U.S. Olympic Committee for a "disregard of Olympic principles." The International Olympic Committee described the salute as "immature behaviour."
At the time Tommie Smith said "If I win I am an American, not a black American". Smith also said that if he did something bad it would be blamed on the colour of his skin. "We are black and we are proud of being black. Black America will understand what we did tonight."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/45865645
This is America lyrics (deconstructed): *I'm on Gucci (I'm on Gucci*) - showing off/boasting and expensive That's a tool (yeah) - could they be talking about a weapon? On my Kodak (woo, Black) - reference to the black community Contraband, contraband, contraband (contraband) - illegal America, I just checked my following list and You go tell somebody You mothafuckas owe me - payback maybe? doesn't care about anyone else in America? blames everyone?
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 (one, two, three, get down) - all of these lyrics seem the complete opposite to the others as I know in the video that guns are involved - these lyrics could relate to shooting
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 No proper life to a dog For a big dog - repeating sayings that people have said to black people - racists
I definitely think that the songs lyrics relates to a protest towards white people in America but also focusing on years previous. When I did watch the music video I did feel a little bit uncomfortable because it was showing some scenes that I haven't seen in my life before but it did hit home that these crimes do happen not just in America, all over the world.
Task:
Investigate something that has gone ‘viral’. This could be an internet sensation, a campaign in your field/discipline, a music video, your favourite meme, a hashtag that you have been involved with or one that you disagree with... anything at all that resonates with YOU, and covers some of the issues we have discussed today.
Write a short analysis of your findings, and be prepared to discuss this with your class in the seminar on Thursday.
My short analysis:
I have decided to look at the Iceland Christmas advert that got banned at Christmas time, there was big viral debate around it being banned as well.
The reason the ad was banned was because the ad was created earlier in 2018 but released in the same month as a video of an orang-utan being rescued from a palm oil plantation emerged. Palm oil is seemed as something that can severely harm the environment which is why when the advert emerged some people kicked off about it. A rep for Iceland said this about the ad: ‘The advert wasn’t approved by Clearcast as it was seen to be in support of a political issue. ‘However, it was never Iceland’s intention to use its Christmas advert to support a political campaign – rather to raise awareness and solidify our position on not using palm oil in food production.’
I have seen the advert and didn't see anything wrong with it but I didn't really know the dangers of palm oil. When I was watching the ad I couldn't see any link to palm oil, all I saw was a girl making friends with an orang-utan. I was among the people who was confused as to why the advert wasn't aired because I was confused as to what was wrong with it. The decision was made by Clearcast, a company which clears adverts to be shown on UK television by checking them against the UK Code of Broadcast Advertising.
https://metro.co.uk/2018/11/13/why-is-the-iceland-advert-banned-from-television-8134506/
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