





In 2003, the Black-Eyed Peas dropped a song and an accompanying music video called Where is the Love. In this song, the Black-Eyed Peas discuss the issues that currently plague the American community. The main points this group touches on is the corrupt American government, social injustices toward minorities, and the media misconstruing the news it reports. These issues can be seen today through the controversy regarding Hilary Clinton’s emails and the black lives matter movement, showing that although this music video is from 2003 it still speaks to problems in America. Through Where is the Love’s lyrics, camera angles, and contrasting colors the Black-Eyed Peas discuss the problems in America regarding the negativity of America’s society.

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 revolutionary pointing directly at the camera. Next to the man is an inscription that reads, “We are not a minority.” A long shot was used to capture this image. The long shot is used in this image because it portrays the words “We are not a minority” as being bigger than one person, Will.i.am. 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 affected by discrimination. Furthermore, the revolutionary in the mural is used to show that that America’s minorities are willing to fight against these injustices. These aspects of this image accurately depict the negativity surrounding the American government.

In the second image focuses on the upper half of the statue of liberty, and in the background, there is a law building. On this building, placed where Lady Liberty’s flame should be, is a question mark that is in various spots throughout the video. In this image a medium shot is used to portray Lady Liberty’s outreached hand and the question mark above her torch. The view compliments this image by making the viewer focus on the question mark about Lady Liberty. The use of color helps to portray that the government policies are not always helpful to everyone. The red that is used to draw the question mark represents death and destruction that is in line with Americas foreign policies in other countries such as the war in Iraq. Wherever lady liberty touches her torch, it is only a matter of time before something will go wrong. This is that the Black-Eyed Peas are trying to convey with this song and specifically this image.

Alongside the images, the lyrics of this song amplify 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. The inequalities that the minorities of America have faced have creates anger and hatred for those who are discriminating against them, therefore, creating a more significant divide. “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. 

“Only attracted to the things that'll bring the trauma, Over seas, yeah, we tryin' to stop terrorism, But we still got terrorist here livin', In the USA, the big CIA, The Bloods, and the Crips and the KKK.” This line is moving because of the relevance of the problems it speaks about. America has stepped into many foreign affairs and tried to fix the countries that they takeover, when we cannot even handle our own issues. We have gangs that are tearing apart our streets, organizations that live in hatred of other people just because of the color of their skin, and our own government continues to reach where it should not. These images vividly depict these issues through the coloring and shot of they are taken at. Perhaps, our assistance is needed in some countries, but many of the countries we have a presence in want us out. Additionally, whether our presence in a foreign country is warranted or not, America must fix its own issues before it can think about trying to “assist” another country in gaining freedom, or whatever excuse our government has come up with to invade another country.

Where is the Love is a moving piece of art that depicts the struggles of American society. The Black-Eyed Peas use filmic language and contrasting colors to explain these issues in modern culture. Furthermore, their lyrics also speak to the inequalities of minorities, the media misguidance, and our governments negative reach into the world. For years, these issues have remained relevant in society. If America can learn to open its mind, and learn from its mistakes we will be able to finally find the love that The Black Eyed Peas are desperately searching for in there song Where is The Love.





