Childish Gambino and The Bluest Eye

Childish Gambino and The Bluest Eye

Childish Gambino, born Donald Mckinley Glover on September 25, 1983, was born in Edwards Air force base, California. Donald graduated from Tisch School Of The Arts with a degree in Dramatic Writing. Donald was a writer for the NBC comedy series "30 Rock" which he received an award for in 2009. Donald also was an actor in the NBC comedy series "Community" in which he played a college student named Troy Barnes. Aside from Childish being a successful writer and actor, he has found much success as a song writer and rapper. Childish's first studio album "Camp" was released November 15, 2011 and it reached as high as second the the US rap charts and eleventh overall. Childish's album "Camp" brings his first hand experiences growing up with racism and the struggles that came with being black.

Donald at Paleyfest 2010 (Picture taken from)

Childish Gambino is a rapper that likes to talk about the struggles he has had growing up. He uses many first hand experiences in his lyrics which make it easier to connect with. His song "Hold You Down" is a great example of this. The basic theme throughout the song is about his struggle with identity and fitting in to his community. The line "But niggas got me feelin' I ain't black enough to go to church" shows his alienation. A black church, which is thought to be a very welcoming place, might even turn him away because of how much of an outsider he is. Later in the song he says "White kids get to wear whatever hat they want when it comes to black kids one size fits all".  Childish is saying that white kids have choices of what they want to do or who to be, but for black kids they have a very slim amount of options and have to fit into the stereotypes or social norms that society has set. This brings into perspective the racism that he had to grow up with as a kid. Finally playing off that last theme Childish says in his song "Hold You Down"

This one kid said somethin' that was really bad

He said I wasn't really black because I had a dad

I think that's kinda sad

Mostly cause a lot of black kids think they should agree with that

Some kid accused Childish of not being a true black because he had a father at home. This kid is conforming to the stereotype that black kids don't have dads around. Also many other black kids feel that its true that if they have a dad than they are not really black which is really sad. Childish has a hard time as a kid because of all these racist stereotypes and being alienated/ "not a true black" because of how he dresses and acts.

"Hold You Down"

Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye" has many very similar messages and themes to those of Childish Gambino. Toni Morrison writes about a black girls obsession with fitting into society's standards of beauty as well as her struggling to fit in at school (like Donald Grover) and the racism she encounters. Pecola Breedlove is viewed by her community as the lowest of the low. Being a poor black female she struggles with everyday life. Pecola is made fun of by other kids at school for her dark skin, curly hair and brown eyes. These preset standards of how people should look and act runs right with Childish Gambino's experiences and lyrics 

My momma said she'd get me that new jacket when the cost go down

Hit the office, stole some Tommy Hill from lost and found

Not bad for a family of foster child

Lookin' fly man, I'm flossin' now

But them niggas saw through me

Are you serious? What is this?

Took the jacket off third period, ellipsis

Childish Gambino thought that he would fit in and be accepted if he dressed a certain way and so he took a Tommy Hilfiger jacket from the lost and found. However, the kids at school realized what he had done and made fun of him to the point where he took it off after only three periods. All Pecola wants in the world is blue eyes and blond hair which society saw as beautiful. She thought that if she conformed to society's model of beauty that she would be accepted and loved by everyone. This conflict with identity and fitting in to your community is something that both Childish Gambino and Pecola Breedlove from "The Bluest Eye"struggled with.