Donald Glover's Evolving Vision of Black Kinship
In the season finale of “Atlanta,” as in his recent “This Is America” video, the artist shows his preoccupation with the burden and blessing of the communal bond.
In one of the central conflicts of Atlanta’s sophomore season, the shiftless Earn (Donald Glover) fears his cousin Alfred (Brian Tyree Henry), better known by his stage name, Paper Boi, will fire him.
Earn, who has served as Paper Boi’s manager since the latter first began rapping, has seenhis professional insecuritiesdeepen throughout the season: In the second episode, the two men meet therising young rapper Clark County, whose hyperconnected white manager isa threat to Earn; in Episode 9, Al chides Earn for landing the men in several awkward situations by skimping on accommodations. As , so, too, does his
