





Racism and mistreatment of people has been an issue that has plagued the world since man was created. In America these issues are still prevalent because of the conflict of slavery and all of the injustices that followed. Even in today’s society this conflict is still an issue that has caused a lot of protest. In 2003 the Black Eyed Peas dropped a song and an accompanying music video called Where is the Love. This song discusses the issues in America having to do with the conflicts between black and whites in America. Through Where is the Love’s lyrics, camera angles, and contrasting colors the Black Eyed Peas discuss how discrimination of black people has led to deeper hatred between blacks and whites. 

In the first image Will.i.am is standing in front of the camera facing the audience and in the background there is a mural with a black man pointing directly at the camera with the inscription “We are not a minority” tattooed on the wall. This image represents the damage that has been done and how it can be fixed. A long shot was used to capture this image. The long shot is the perfect shot for this image because it portrays the words “We are not a minority” as being bigger than one person, Will.i.am. Additionally, what the director is trying to say is that the issues that America face today are larger than any one person or any one race. Along with the long shot, color contrast is also used to make the words on the mural stand out to express the feelings behind it. For example, the words are written in multiple fonts and have different color schemes which make them pop. These different fonts and colors could also represent the races effected discrimination. Furthermore, with this image the Black Eyed Peas are trying to express that the label of “minority” creates division by displaying the words “We are not a minority” on a wall in the background. The label comes with a negative connotation that places one race above the other. This labeling divides people and then unfairly provides a better opportunity for those that are in the majority. 

The second image is less artsy than the first, but is still very important to the music videos theme. This image is a medium shot of a black man sitting on the ground with a police officer standing over him. This shot brings out the features of the man’s face and gives the situation an intense air to it. His anger with the situation easily depicted. Additionally, this image is meant to be more than a black man being arrested by a white man, it is meant to symbolize the oppression that black people have felt over the years from white people. Also the man’s hands are moving wildly and are blurred in the picture. This represents the frustration felt by the black community in regards to the situation of discrimination and racism. 

Alongside the images the lyrics of this song depict the meaning behind this music video. The lyrics surrounding the first image go as follows: “But if you only have love for you own race, then you only leave space to discriminate, and to discriminate only generates hate, and when you hate then you're bound to get irate, madness is what you demonstrate.” This fits perfectly with what the image is saying. Just like the image the lyrics are saying that division will cause nothing but harm to our world. “And to discriminate only generates hate,” is a powerful verse in this song. This verse accurately shows that without equality there can never be true peace in the world because one race or group of people will always be trying to overcome the other. “Wrong information always shown by the media, negative images is the main criteria, infecting the young minds faster than bacteria, kids want to act like what they see in the cinemas.” This verse accompanies the second image of a black man getting arrested by a white police officer. This image along with these lyrics show the overall feelings toward black people and the reasons for them. The media displays images of black people rioting in the street and black men being arrested for crimes many others have committed. This gives black people a negative because of how they are displayed in the news. Sadly, this brain washing does not only effect the minds of other races towards black people, but also the black youth who only see a few options to become successful because of the color of the skin. The negative images of black people portrayed by the media is one of the main reasons for so many issues today.

Where is the Love is a moving piece of art that depicts the struggle of African Americans in today’s society. The Black Eyed Peas use filmic language and contrasting colors to explain these issues in modern culture. Their lyrics also speak to the discrimination and, for some, hatred of black people by other races. For years these issues have remained relevant in society. Many people are fed up with this situation we have put black people in. In order to fix it we must realize that white, black, Asian, or Latino we are all human beings with love in our hearts. The Black Eyed Peas are just trying to find this love through the song Where is the Love.” 