Comedian W. Kamau Bell arranges a special meeting with the KKK
May 3, 2016 8:01 AM   Subscribe

The United Shades of America is a new show on CNN. It's hosted by standup comic W. Kamau Bell, and he says the show is about "a black guy who goes where he shouldn't go or where you wouldn't expect him to go." And if you think that's hype, well, in the very first episode Bell hangs out with Ku Klux Klan members in Kentucky and Arkansas (45 minute Youtube link).
posted by Brandon Blatcher (18 comments total) 22 users marked this as a favorite
 


The second episode had Bell going to San Quentin. It wasn't anything new, but Bell is a good host who's good at getting people to talk.
posted by Etrigan at 8:10 AM on May 3, 2016




The KKK episode was strong on suspense, even though nothing bad happened, and nothing was said to make you think anything bad would happen. Bell is, apart from being good at talking to people and pretty funny, also extraordinarily even tempered.

And it's still way too easy to find people who think it's okay to say the most reprehensible things so long as you couch them in phony cordiality.
posted by Flexagon at 8:30 AM on May 3, 2016 [1 favorite]


"And just like that, I'm off to see the wizards..."

Well done. Well done.
posted by RolandOfEld at 9:17 AM on May 3, 2016


Almost as daring as Larry Wilmore at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Almost.
posted by oneswellfoop at 10:01 AM on May 3, 2016


Bell is, apart from being good at talking to people and pretty funny, also extraordinarily even tempered.

On Being a Black Male, Six Feet Four Inches Tall, in America in 2014
posted by Etrigan at 10:04 AM on May 3, 2016 [2 favorites]


Holy christ he is a brave man.

Man the klan outfits look dumb. Have they always looked this dumb?
posted by poe at 10:42 AM on May 3, 2016


We might need a FanFare about the show.
posted by larrybob at 11:39 AM on May 3, 2016


Man the klan outfits look dumb. Have they always looked this dumb?

Signs point to yes.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:56 AM on May 3, 2016


And it's still way too easy to find people who think it's okay to say the most reprehensible things so long as you couch them in phony cordiality.

The first klansman said "yessir" a couple of times.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:58 AM on May 3, 2016


Alison Kinney wrote about the odd history of the Klan's daft outfits here. And here's an interview with Bell by the great Pilot Viruet in Esquire.

Very important addition to that NPR interview: Terry Gross standing next to Kamau.
posted by Gin and Broadband at 1:15 PM on May 3, 2016 [2 favorites]


He talked about the show on The Daily Show a couple of weeks ago, it was so great.
posted by numaner at 1:28 PM on May 3, 2016 [1 favorite]


On Being a Black Male, Six Feet Four Inches Tall, in America in 2014

Etrigan, that was an awesome article!
posted by bartonlong at 1:53 PM on May 3, 2016


No no, we don't burn it, it's a cross lighting. [...] You wouldn't wanna do them every month, it makes it less special. It's like the idea... you could have champagne but you're not gonna have it every day.

I died. I can't even. I think my humorous satire meter exploded.
posted by numaner at 1:54 PM on May 3, 2016 [1 favorite]


Just FYI: this video has been altered (speed, framing) to avoid Google's automatic copyright-infringement tools finding it, so it may or may not be up for long.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:03 PM on May 3, 2016


Bell did a good Q&A on Reddit about the Klan episode.
posted by VelveteenBabbitt at 3:12 PM on May 3, 2016


OMG THAT TERRY GROSS PHOTO. Did they import her from like, fairyland?!
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:36 PM on May 3, 2016 [1 favorite]


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