Donald Glover goes viral for his controversial music video released last weekend.

Glover’s video for his song ‘This is America’ addresses several issues in the news head-on through symbolism and allusions.

While hosting Saturday Night Live this past weekend, Glover took the stage to debut his new single. After his vigorous performance, the track was released along with the official music video. The video features metaphors for various issues and left viewers with a lot to assess.

Some took the song as another bop from Glover like the rest of his music, but others looked deeper into what the video and lyrics may convey. Little things like dance moves and police cars in the video serve a deeper meaning to major issues in society. Those issues include police brutality, gun violence and how America deals with these issues.

“At first I just thought the song was another hit by him, but after checking Twitter, I realized what he really meant in the video,” said sophomore Kamryn Lane. Social media played a huge part in the virality and awareness of Glover’s song.

Turning people’s attention to the topic and just how serious it is was Glover’s intention with his video, and he did just that. Celebrities such as Adele and SZA praised the video and what all it stands for.

“He’s doing what most celebrities have been doing recently and that’s addressing unfairness towards a certain race, I feel like it’s also pointing out how America has changed into this society where all we care about is technology and violence,” said sophomore Ashton Calvert.

The messages in the videos are based on the rise of gun violence in America recently, showing multiple shootings done by Glover. He handles the guns more delicately than human lives, which is a huge statement regarding the issue.

Another message is conveyed by a man strumming the guitar, meant to portray Trayvon Martin’s father, who was fatally shot by a police officer in 2012. The man is then shot by Glover after he strikes a Jim Crow-like pose. Jim Crow laws enforced racial segregation in the late 1800’s through the Civil Rights period in Southern America.

The children dancing with Glover while the music is upbeat and happy represents the way that society masks the tragedies that take place in our country. The children are happy and full of energy despite the devastating acts being done around them.

“Watching the video made me think about the issues we have in America because it points out gun violence and how racism isn’t going away anytime soon, and that we need to change the way we act or it will all keep going downhill,” said Calvert. As if the recent violence in shootings and police brutality shouldn’t have already gotten the attention of most people, Glover’s song will turn more heads toward the topics.

The video can be viewed on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYOjWnS4cMY.