The ruthless authoritative power of Whites over African Americans has been in motion from the moment they stepped foot into Africa and claimed numerous people simply for their personal gains. Over time, that supremacy has occurred in many diverse forms. Social injustice has casted vast influence in our government as well as our society. Many African American employees become scrutinized and treated unequally in the work force. That same authoritative force by Whites also require African Americans to work twice as hard in order to become a successful United States citizen. However, the most common abuse of authority by Whites upon African Americans is brutality by law enforcement.  

In the first frame under analysis, the viewer Kendrick Lamar and a group of his friends all together in a car. What's interesting about the shot is that the car is being carried by four police officers. The shot is shown in black and white to show distinction between the content of the shot, such as Lamar and his black friends and the white police officers shown. The distinction is important because it provides a deeper meaning in the scene. In our society, we know that police hold great authority as they are the ones who enforce the laws. Yet, we see Lamar and his African American friends being carried by white police officers. It is as though the authoritative power has in some way; where these particular African Americans are asserting their dominance as their people have often been oppressed over many decades. This scene could be viewed as going hand and hand with ancient Egyptian times when pharaohs and kings were carried around by their servants. For once, those with power and authority now know how it feels from the other end of the spectrum. 

The second scene is towards the end of the video using an establishing shot. In the middle ground it depicts Lamar standing at the top of a street light post, while in the background is his home of Los Angeles. This represents his elevation from an African American with little to noting to an individual that holds much power and influence in his community, as well as the world. Shortly after, a white police officer enters the scene, points and aims his finger-gun at Lamar, and eventually shoots him down. Though the officer did not use a real gun, using his finger as a firearm represents just how those of high authority, specifically police, do not take kindly to young African Americans of such high regard. The fact that the officer was looking up at Lamar from a bug's eye view, is something that obviously didn't sit well with him. Just like any other individual who does not enjoy the idea of an African American on a high pedestal, the officer decided to take matters into his own hands and carry out what he felt was justice. 

With these visual aspects and factors kept in mind, Kendrick Lamar's theme in his music video "Alright," depicts that the ongoing calamity of police brutality against African Americans is evident more so than it was over the past decades. Throughout the video, the reoccurring motif of police officers interacting with African Americans convey the idea that police abuse their authority to the highest extent when an African American is involved, thus continuing the cycle of social injustice. Lamar wants us to see that it is evident that a majority of police officers do not respect nor care about the welfare of African Americans. Yet relating the theme back to the title, Lamar wants African Americans to trust that after going through all the oppression they have, or still have to endure, in the end, what does not kill you makes you stronger and they will live on and prosper. 