In a recent interview with Global Grind, Donald Glover was asked about loving someone "different" from yourself. The question was framed around the relationship between the characters in his new film SOLO: Lando Calrissian, played by Glover, and a droid named L3-37. However, the question also seemed to lean into a conversation, both on Twitter and some thinkpieces, regarding Glover's partner and mother of his child, who is white. The discussion compelled Touré to write a piece called Donald Glover’s White Partner Doesn’t Make Him Any Less Black, a response to those who thought Glover's relationship somehow invalidated his pro-black art like "This Is America" and Atlanta. "There's been a lot of conversation about -- who you love depends on how conscious you can be," interviewer Xilla Valentine asked Glover. "If you love someone differently from who you are, can you still be conscious to your core people?"
The question wasn't exactly direct, but Glover covered all the bases with his response anyway. "That’s what love really is at the end of day, its not even a selflessness, but its like an understanding that I’m making a safe place for you," he said. "It’s not safe out there for anybody in this film. Somebody is out to get you, that’s just the nature of being. I feel like you can totally love somebody and still look out for yourself, but I think the question really is do you see that thing or that someone else as a part of you. Do you see it as we are people together or we are a tribe together or we depend on each other then you’re always going to want the best for them.”
The film hits theatres May 25th. Glover, who continues to stay busy as ever, will be heading out on tour this summer as Childish Gambino. After premiering two new songs on SNL last week, he's expected to release a new album in the near future.