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In just two lines, Common makes it clear that “Glory” draws a parallel between the Civil Rights Movement of the 50s and 60s, and the ongoing fight for justice recently demonstrated in Ferguson, MO.

Rosa Parks, a Black woman, refused to give up her seat on a public bus to a White man on December 1st 1955. Her act of defiance against Alabama’s segregation laws remains an important symbol of the Civil Rights Movement.

On August 19th 2014, unarmed Black teenager Michael Brown was shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, MO. This sparked the “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” movement that spread through the nation in 2014.

Common elaborated on the similarities between these events in an interview:

It’s the same whether it was Rosa Parks standing up for her rights, or people standing up in Ferguson for Michael Brown. He wasn’t given his fair rights. A human being who isn’t threatening a life doesn’t deserve for someone to end his life

He was one of several artists to show solidarity with those protesting in Ferguson – both by visiting Ferguson in person and by calling for a moment of silence in tribute of Mike Brown during his presentation at the 2014 MTV VMAs.

Common draws a comparison between the events in 1965 Selma and present-day protests, such as those in Ferguson, MO:

[“Glory”] is a song for right now. Everything about the song is about the present. It resonates with what we see going on in the country, in Ferguson, other cities, and in the world.

Both sets of events saw widespread public support and involvement from activists across the nation. While some may (incorrectly) believe that we live in a post-racial society, Common is encouraging everyone to inform themselves and stand in support of the injustices still faced disproportionally by Black Americans today.

Continuing the religious theme, Common alludes to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God’s only son. After Jesus died, God sent the holy spirit to live with us.

The brutal death of activist Jimmie Lee Jackson at the hands of police in Selma served as a catalyst for the Selma to Montgomery Marches in 1965.

The murders of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Mike Brown, Tamir Rice and so many other Black males at the hands of police has had a similar catalytic effect on today’s Black Lives Matter movement. Their spirits live on in us as we fight against issues like police brutality that still disproportionally plague Black men.

Alternatively, the words “One son died” could be referring to Dr Martin Luther King Jr. The revolutionary spirit he exhibited during the Civil Rights Movement is coming back in those fighting for equal rights today.

Referring to this epic dunk by L.A. Clippers power forward Blake Griffin over OKC center Kendrick Perkins, which took place back in January 2012:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbyOevVAYQI

This is the same hook as in the original version – check the breakdown here.