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Library/Music/I'm Not Racist
Grade B37 sourcesHIS-00226

I'm Not Racist

Music · 2017 · Viral

66Editable slideCertificate

Lucas's race-debate video drew 155 million YouTube views; its single was certified Gold.

Original · Joyner Lucas
Joyner Lucas - I'm Not Racist
VICE
I'm Not Racist: cover art
Wikipedia (non-free, fair use)
I'm Not Racist - Single by Joyner Lucas on Apple Music
Apple Music
‘I’m Not Racist’ is the brutal race conversation nobody wants to have | CNN
Boston Magazine
Kacey Musgraves
Recording Academy

Spread Score

How it works
Reach80ContagionNo data yetBreadth70Velocity65Longevity3466

Numbers

YouTube seed + 10 derivatives; Kworb seed lower bound
155.7M
As of Oct 13, 2026 · YouTube · Kworb
Peak date
Week of Dec 1, 2017
Nov 28 ’17 to Week of Dec 1, 2017
Platforms
8
Started on YouTube
Origin
Seeded
Entertainment

Mechanics

  • ControversyPrimary
  • Platform jump
  • Press loop
  • Response chain
  • Newsjacking

How it spread

Trace the origin

Lucas released a video staging opposing views about race. It spread through Facebook sharing, television reactions and remixes. The single earned Gold certification and a Grammy video nomination. Its format later inspired the DUGRI social project.

Dates use the stated precision; chart positions are date anchors.

Google searchesSep ’17DecFeb ’18JunSepDecSep ’19Aug ’20Jul ’21Jun ’22May ’23PeakYouTubePressXTVFacebookOpen webInstagramAudio
YouTubePressXTVFacebookOpen webInstagramAudio

15 more events on this chart

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Timeline (18)

  1. November 2017

    Joyner Lucas seed · Nov 28 ’17

    Joyner Lucas released the music video for I'm Not Racist.[1][2][3][4]

    I'm Not Racist - Single by Joyner Lucas on Apple Music
    Open the first post ↗

  2. CNN platform jump · Nov 29 ’17

    CNN interviewed Lucas about the video and its reception.[5]

  3. Joyner Lucas owner response · Nov 30 ’17

    Lucas tweeted that he felt his life was changing before his eyes.[6]

Changelogupdated Oct 12 ’26
  1. 2026-10-12Added: 16 events, 34 sources · Score 75
Origin
Seeded
Sector
Entertainment
Region
US
YouTube seed + 10 derivatives; Kworb seed lower bound
155.7M
As of Oct 13, 2026 · YouTube · Kworb
Evidence
Grade B

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New cases, every week

How the next thing spread, the week it does.

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Google searchesSep ’17DecFeb ’18JunSepDecSep ’19Aug ’20Jul ’21Jun ’22May ’23PeakYouTubePressXTVFacebookOpen webInstagramAudio
YouTubePressXTVFacebookOpen webInstagramAudio

15 more events on this chart

Join free to see them

  1. November 2017

    Joyner Lucas seed · Nov 28 ’17

    Joyner Lucas released the music video for I'm Not Racist.[1][2][3][4]

    I'm Not Racist - Single by Joyner Lucas on Apple Music
    Open the first post ↗

  2. CNN platform jump · Nov 29 ’17

    CNN interviewed Lucas about the video and its reception.[5]

  3. Joyner Lucas owner response · Nov 30 ’17

    Lucas tweeted that he felt his life was changing before his eyes.[6]

  1. platform jump · Nov 30 ’17

  2. platform jump · Dec 1 ’17

Join free to see the other 15 events and the full chart. Free, on every case.

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Why it worked

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