The Good & Bad in Rihanna's Politically-Charged "American Oxygen" Vid

FUSE TV - The Good & Bad in Rihanna's Politically-Charged "American Oxygen" Vid

In Rihanna's new track "American Oxygen," she sings, over and over, how "We are the new America." Now we get to see what the "Bitch Better Have My Money" singer considers the American dream in the anthemic track's video. In a politically charged visual, Rih sings on music video sets as iconic shots from U.S. history flash across the screen. For the most part, it's all good and inspiring, but some of it's giving us pause. 

Watch above for a scrapbook of American highs and lows, including the Great Depression, the Civil Rights Movement, recent immigration protests, Ku Klux Klan demonstrations, the moon landing, September 11th, President Obama's inauguration and much more. RiRi offers some sharp visual juxtapositions from history as well, from shots of men trading on Wall Street to the Occupy Wall Street movement, or fireworks on the Fourth of July exploding next to an atomic bomb. 

There's also a heavy handed look at police brutality, with loads of recent and vintage footage of officers attacking citizens, but at the end we get a lovely shot of two African American officers smiling for the camera.

Probably the coolest commentary comes from the only images of musicians—the Beatles and Bob Marley, who made lasting impacts on our country's culture despite being born elsewhere. (Just like...Rihanna!) Do you really need to be American to be a part of American history?

Anthony Ramos On 'The Good & The Bad' (Extended Cut)

12m

Anthony Ramos On 'The Good & The Bad' (Extended Cut)

Racial Profiling: Good Policing or Bad Judgement?

23m

Racial Profiling: Good Policing or Bad Judgement?

Rihanna: Rebirth

41m

Rihanna: Rebirth

The All-Americans

1h 36m

The All-Americans

The American Rat Race

20m

The American Rat Race

The All-Americans - Trailer

2m

The All-Americans - Trailer

Politics

22m

Politics

Charged: The Eduardo Garcia Story

1h 22m

Charged: The Eduardo Garcia Story

Breaking Bad

44m

Breaking Bad

The Hilarious Reality of the American Rat Race

2m

The Hilarious Reality of the American Rat Race

Bad Table Manners

46m

Bad Table Manners

American Thief

1h 15m

American Thief

Good Records

1m

Good Records

Inherent Good

54m

Inherent Good

Big Bad Voodoo Finale

21m

Big Bad Voodoo Finale

Buy, Bye American

24m

Buy, Bye American

Democracy American Style

24m

Democracy American Style

Inherent Good - Trailer

1m

Inherent Good - Trailer

American Obsessions Pt.1

20m

American Obsessions Pt.1

American Obsessions Pt.2

20m

American Obsessions Pt.2

The Beatles: In the Life

1h 2m

The Beatles: In the Life

Meagan Good Gets Jumped for Trina?

2m

Meagan Good Gets Jumped for Trina?

She Wanna Have A Good Time

20m

She Wanna Have A Good Time

Meagan Good and Lil Rel Howery

20m

Meagan Good and Lil Rel Howery

Chaos In The Cage

44m

Chaos In The Cage

Out in the Ring

1h 43m

Out in the Ring

All in the Family

20m

All in the Family

Tension In The Tenderloin

20m

Tension In The Tenderloin

The Ladies Play "Fill In The Blanks"

1m

The Ladies Play "Fill In The Blanks"

Out With The Old, In With The New

20m

Out With The Old, In With The New

Out in the Ring - Trailer

2m

Out in the Ring - Trailer

Cher: Life in the Spotlight

56m

Cher: Life in the Spotlight

Meagan Good Plays 2 Truths and a Lie

1m

Meagan Good Plays 2 Truths and a Lie

Love In The Time Of Pandademic

20m

Love In The Time Of Pandademic

Plenty Of Fish In The Street

20m

Plenty Of Fish In The Street

Brunch In The Castro: Deleted Scene

2m

Brunch In The Castro: Deleted Scene

The First Time, In A Long Time

20m

The First Time, In A Long Time

Dipset in the Building Minus Cam'ron

3m

Dipset in the Building Minus Cam'ron

Don't Swear In Front of The Song

21m

Don't Swear In Front of The Song

Rogelio Shows His Acting Prowess In 'The Dark Military'

55s

Rogelio Shows His Acting Prowess In 'The Dark Military'

Mole Chilaquiles in Los Angeles: Fluffly Off the Menu

2m

Mole Chilaquiles in Los Angeles: Fluffly Off the Menu

Comedians React to Unbelievably Strange Laws in the US

6m

Comedians React to Unbelievably Strange Laws in the US

Bacon Wrapped Bacon in Harlem: Fluffly Off the Menu

2m

Bacon Wrapped Bacon in Harlem: Fluffly Off the Menu

Keeping Your Girls The Girls In Check: G-Thing

2m

Keeping Your Girls The Girls In Check: G-Thing

Crispy Maple Chicken Donuts in Atlanta: Fluffy Off the Menu

2m

Crispy Maple Chicken Donuts in Atlanta: Fluffy Off the Menu

Indian Hot Chicken Pakora in Nashville: Fluffy Off the Menu

2m

Indian Hot Chicken Pakora in Nashville: Fluffy Off the Menu

Deviled Duck Eggs in D.C.: Fluffy Off the Menu

2m

Deviled Duck Eggs in D.C.: Fluffy Off the Menu

Dwayne Johnson and The Blue Devils Break It Down In Hawaii

3m

Dwayne Johnson and The Blue Devils Break It Down In Hawaii

What The Hell Are We? Are We Living In A Simulation?

18m

What The Hell Are We? Are We Living In A Simulation?

Hollywood Puppet Sh!tshow: Amanda Cerny's Run-in With the Bulls

3m

Hollywood Puppet Sh!tshow: Amanda Cerny's Run-in With the Bulls

King Keraun Falls Into a Sunken Place While in the Woods

2m

King Keraun Falls Into a Sunken Place While in the Woods

A Day In the Life of Wilmer Valderrama's Puppet Ep. 2: Optimism

1m

A Day In the Life of Wilmer Valderrama's Puppet Ep. 2: Optimism

Clash of the Corps Drummers Step Up and Show Out in Rhythm

1m

Clash of the Corps Drummers Step Up and Show Out in Rhythm

What Does The Transcendent Star Look For In A Man: Dear Bambiana

1m

What Does The Transcendent Star Look For In A Man: Dear Bambiana

The River and the Wall

1h 45m

The River and the Wall

Got to Be in it To Win it: America's Obsession with the Lottery

2m

Got to Be in it To Win it: America's Obsession with the Lottery

A Day In the Life of Wilmer Valderrama's Puppet Ep. 1: Hollow Man

1m

A Day In the Life of Wilmer Valderrama's Puppet Ep. 1: Hollow Man

A Day In the Life of Wilmer Valderrama's Puppet Ep. 3: Inner Thoughts

1m

A Day In the Life of Wilmer Valderrama's Puppet Ep. 3: Inner Thoughts

Cajun Fried Mac and Cheese Balls In New Orleans: Fluffy Off the Menu

3m

Cajun Fried Mac and Cheese Balls In New Orleans: Fluffy Off the Menu

The Blue Devils Bring The Parade

1m

The Blue Devils Bring The Parade

The Best of The Best Clash

2m

The Best of The Best Clash

The Exchange

1h 27m

The Exchange

The Canvas

The Canvas

The FP

1h 20m

The FP

The 212

The 212

The Feels

1h 21m

The Feels

The Reunion

45m

The Reunion

The Decision

44m

The Decision

The Hustle

20m

The Hustle

The Pilot

21m

The Pilot

The Motorcycle

23m

The Motorcycle

The Citizen

1h 34m

The Citizen

Punching In

45m

Punching In

Moving In

41m

Moving In

All the Focus is on the Diamonds

21m

All the Focus is on the Diamonds

T-Pain's School of Business: Artiphon- The All In One Musical Device | Season 1 Look Back |

1m

T-Pain's School of Business: Artiphon- The All In One Musical Device | Season 1 Look Back |

Into The Woods

21m

Into The Woods

Enter the Metaverse

21m

Enter the Metaverse

The Vest Guest

20m

The Vest Guest

Making The Retrograde

20m

Making The Retrograde

Facing The Truth

20m

Facing The Truth

Crossed the Line

1h 30m

Crossed the Line

The Revolution Generation

1h 17m

The Revolution Generation

Rich The Kid

20m

Rich The Kid

Pink: The Truth

57m

Pink: The Truth

The Daphne Project

1h 7m

The Daphne Project

Between the Shades

1h 22m

Between the Shades

Who's the Boss?

24m

Who's the Boss?

Making the Cut

46m

Making the Cut

The Feels - Trailer

1m

The Feels - Trailer

Missy: The Icon

20m

Missy: The Icon

Meet The Family

21m

Meet The Family

The Prison Within

1h 23m

The Prison Within

The 212 - Trailer

59s

The 212 - Trailer

The Winner Is…

44m

The Winner Is…

The Right Girls

1h 22m

The Right Girls

The Third Strike

1h 3m

The Third Strike

Rock the Bells

21m

Rock the Bells

Behind The Snow

22m

Behind The Snow

The Great Director

23m

The Great Director