The lyrics and accompanying music video, reflecting the core of the Black Lives Matter movement, confront issues of ongoing systemic racism, including prejudice, racial violence, the ghetto, and law enforcement in the United States, as well as the wider issues of mass shootings and gun violence in the United States.

Glover may be sending a message about how the US prioritizes the protection of guns over the protection of black bodies. Glover moves fluidly from violent act to violent act, just as America does with mass shootings.

Gambino's hit song and video “This is America” in order to situate the song as an attempt to garner reparations. According to the song, reparations could be due either because of continued economic exploitation of Black Americans in this country or due to the entertainment industry's exploitation of Black creativity.

Childish Gambino Collaborator Denies “This Is America” Plagiarism Allegations. One of Donald Glover's creative partners has denied claims that Glover “stole” the music for his No. 1 single “This Is America” from a March 2016 song called “American Pharaoh” by New York rapper Jase Harley.