"One Love"- A Representation of Unity

Bob Marley revolutionized the music industry with his happy and reassuring songs that aimed for the unity of the people. The song “One Love” expressed his desire to unite the people of different cultures and races. The song’s music video illustrates a black child singing the song’s lyrics as he sits in a chair. As the kid sits in the chair singing, the video cuts to different people dancing happily while singing. The music video ends with a large group of people walking and singing as they embraced one another regardless of their race and culture. With the help of the study of representation, we can identify that the message Bob Marley attempted to deliver was that of loving one another despite of differences.

Prior to the release of the song, Bob Marley was known for his lyrics about love and peace. In a time of constant fight between races and cultures across the world, Bob Marley became the voice of peace and unity. In America, the song became an anthem that aimed to help the relationships between African Americans and Whites. Due to this, the music video focused on the depiction of these two groups and their similarities that allows them to unite.

In the music video, we are able to observe the two groups (Whites and Blacks), which Marley aims to “get together and feel alright”. The two groups are displayed as being joyous while dancing together. The depiction in the music video of the two groups was contrary to the actual events that were happening in America at that time, for violence reigned. However, it allowed for the “open up of culture to the play of power”. Marley’s video represented a new world in which whites and blacks placed their differences aside and came together through love. As depicted in the video, the power battle was left behind and the two groups enjoyed their time together.

Furthermore, the music video illustrates an innocent black child that sings the song with passion and hope that one day the fight between the groups will stop. The kid’s vision is centered in the idea that unity will be a “contribution to the development of society”. Through the depiction of the Kid, Bob Marley is able to express his desire. Also, Marley is able to show that the kids are the new generation that will make the unity possible. The lyrics “hear the children crying (one love)” represent the children as the factor that will bring the groups together.

At the end of the video, the two groups are able to come together as a whole as they dance and laugh. The black child leads the group in order to represent the reality of his dream. His voice was able to bring the two groups together through love. By creating this video, Bob Marley was able to represent the power of love to create change in a divided society.

The song “One Love” highlights the importance of love in bringing peace and people together. The music video displays the possibility of a dream becoming a reality. Through the use of the lyrics and the video, Marley is able to represent the change between the two groups that leads to love and happiness.