View source for Like a Prayer (song)

==Music Video==
The day after the commercial premiered, Madonna released the song's music video on [[MTV]].  The video is arguably among the most controversial ever released: Madonna witnesses the assault and murder of a White woman by a group of White men (who menacingly stare at her when they realize they were seen), as well as the subsequent wrongful arrest of a Black man who was on the scene attempting to help the victim (the scene is shot in the American South, bringing back images of the overt racism of the 1950's).

Madonna then flees the scene for a nearby Catholic Church, where she sees a caged statue of a saint resembling the wrongfully arrested Black man and then falls asleep, dreaming she is falling through space before being caught by a woman representing power and strength, who tells her to do what is right.  Still dreaming, she returns to the statue, whereupon the Black man/saint kisses her on the forehead before leaving; she accidentally cuts herself with a knife making [[stigmata]] on her hands.  Other scenes show Madonna dancing wildly in front of burning crosses, more kissing scenes between her and the Black man/saint, and her singing with a gospel choir led by the woman who caught her.  Awakening, she goes to the police and gives a statement, whereupon the Black man is released.