W. Kamau Bell

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  • Sociopolitical Comedian, Producer, and Documentarian
  • TV Personality and Host, CNN's Emmy Award-Winning 'United Shades with W. Kamau Bell'
  • Critically-Acclaimed Podcaster
  • Author of 'The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell' and New York Times Bestseller 'Do the Work!'



Sociopolitical comedian, Emmy-winning producer, and New York Times bestselling author W. Kamau Bell is a revered cultural commentator, using hilarity and profound insight to illuminate today’s biggest issues – and where we can go from here. He is the host and executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning CNN docuseries United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell, in which he explores communities across America to understand the unique challenges they face. Kamau is known for his Netflix stand-up comedy special Private School Negro, his one-man show The W. Kamau Bell Curve: Ending Racism in About an Hour, and his FX & FXX comedy series Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell. His first book, The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell: Tales of a 6' 4", African American, Heterosexual, Cisgender, Left-Leaning, Asthmatic, Black and Proud Blerd, Mama's Boy, Dad, and Stand-Up Comedian, is a humorous, well-informed take on the world today from “the most promising new talent in political comedy in many years” (The New York Times). Kamau is the co-author of the New York Times bestseller Do the Work!: An Anti-Racist Activity Book, with Kate Schatz. In sought-after talks, Kamau leverages humor as a tool for transformative conversations.

Kamau serves on the advisory boards of Right To Be (formerly Hollaback!), Donors Choose, and is the ACLU Celebrity Ambassador for Racial Justice. He’s been nominated for multiple NAACP Image Awards, a GLAAD award, and has been featured on Conde Nast’s “Daring 25” list. He has hosted three critically acclaimed podcasts: Kamau Right Now!, Politically Re-Active, and Denzel Washington is The Greatest Actor of All Time Period. Kamau is the director of the critically acclaimed documentary Cultureshock: Chris Rock’s Bring the Pain, and is the director and producer of the four-time Emmy-nominated docuseries We Need to Talk About Cosby. Kamau tackles some of the nation's most longstanding complex issues in accessible and empowering talks for audiences of all kinds.

 

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Rave Reviews About W. Kamau Bell
Kamau was not only as humorous and engaging as we knew he would be, we thought he also did a great job... [getting] to the “meat” of the issues...in a way that was not only engaging, but also enlightening... I know that it had to also be quite interesting and reassuring for those who might have come in prepared to disagree with his viewpoints. It was just an all-around great presentation...

A Sample of the Groups That Have Hosted W. Kamau Bell
  • University of California, Santa Barbara
  • A Major Law Firm
  • Facing Race A National Convention
  • Indiana University
  • Humility and Conviction in Public Life
W. Kamau Bell and Kate Schatz discuss "Do the Work: An Anti-Racist Activity Book" | Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library - Get Sharable Link
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The W. Kamau Bell Curve: Ending Racism in About an Hour

Just like skinny jeans, superhero movies, and celebrity weight loss, racism continues to make a comeback. Luckily for us, W. Kamau Bell is here to make (non)sense of all of it all. "The Curve" is a comedic, topical exploration of the current state of America's racism, combined with a little (unknown ...

Just like skinny jeans, superhero movies, and celebrity weight loss, racism continues to make a comeback. Luckily for us, W. Kamau Bell is here to make (non)sense of all of it all. "The Curve" is a comedic, topical exploration of the current state of America's racism, combined with a little (unknown) history, a little Powerpoint, and a whole bunch of Kamau. And because racism is always attacking in new ways and from new angles, Kamau attacks back by constantly adding new material. "The Curve" is a seamless mix of stand-up comedy, video and audio clips, personal stories, knowledge-dropping, and solo theatrical performance.

Do The Work: An Anti-Racist How-To for Allies

Kamau Bell has been talking about race in America on his CNN show, in his podcasts and in his books.  Now he offers a guide for anyone interested in doing the work.  With his disarming humor, Bell offers friendly conversation, challenging quizzes, and facts to those who want to leverage their privil ...

Kamau Bell has been talking about race in America on his CNN show, in his podcasts and in his books.  Now he offers a guide for anyone interested in doing the work.  With his disarming humor, Bell offers friendly conversation, challenging quizzes, and facts to those who want to leverage their privilege for good.  Bell knows that many well intentioned people have read the books, donated and marched, but are stuck with what to do next. This talk by Bell and his writing partner Kate Schatz helps those people take the next steps. This talk is funny, smart, serious, and - most importantly - approachable.

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<p><strong>W. Kamau Bell and Kate Schatz’ new book <em>Do the Work!</em> is an accessible roadmap to dismantling systemic racism</strong></p>

W. Kamau Bell and Kate Schatz’ new book Do the Work! is an accessible roadmap to dismantling systemic racism

When revered and Emmy-nominated sociopolitical comedian W. KAMAU BELL and bestselling author and organizer KATE SCHATZ teamed up to write their antiracism workbook, they were guaranteed to bring their unique perspectives to create a resource like no other. The New York Times bestselling Do the Work!: An Anti-Racist Activity Book is revelatory and thought-provoking, and features illustrations, puzzles, and more to engage readers in a unique, hands-on understanding of systemic racism – and how to dismantle it.

No strangers to uncomfortable – and transformative – conversations, Kamau and Kate have been engaging for years with complex and nuanced topics through their work. Kamau, who hosts and executive produces the Emmy-winning CNN docuseries United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell, explores communities across America to understand the unique challenges they face, having unexpected and eye-opening conversations about the state of our nation. Kate, the feminist historian, educator, and New York Times bestselling author behind the “Rad Women” series including Rad American Women A-ZRad Women Worldwide, and more, has spoken to hundreds of groups empowering women to become effective political activists. Through their writing, and in high-impact events, Kamau and Kate inspire audiences to think critically, have tough conversations, and do the work that will change the world.

Watch W. Kamau Bell on CONAN >>

Watch Kate Schatz on CONAN >>

<p><strong>A sociopolitical comedian, W. Kamau Bell brings both a seriousness and levity to the subjects of race, social justice, and equity making the conversation available to every audience</strong></p>

A sociopolitical comedian, W. Kamau Bell brings both a seriousness and levity to the subjects of race, social justice, and equity making the conversation available to every audience

Emmy-winning host and executive producer of CNN’s United Shades of AmericaW. KAMAU BELL is a sociopolitical comedian on race, social justice, and equity who brings both a seriousness and levity to the subjects making them available to every audience. In this interview on CNN’S New Day and with KRON4 News, W. Kamau Bell talks about the history and legacy of white supremacy in the US and the current state of the country following the death of George Floyd. In The Bell Curve: Ending Racism in About an Hour, the standup comedian makes (non)sense of race and racism in America. In his new animated series, “Talk Boring to Me," Bell tackles some of the nation's most longstanding complex issues, in a way that only a brilliant political comedian and social commentator can.

He is the host of three podcastsKamau Right Now!Politically Re-Active, and Denzel Washington is The Greatest Actor of All Time Period. Kamau is on the advisory board of Hollaback! and Donors Choose and is the ACLU Celebrity Ambassador for Racial Justice. Called “the most promising new talent in political comedy in many years” by The New York Times, Kamau is the person you want to speak with your team and support them with being more open, active, and engaged with pressing social issues of our time.

 

Books by W. Kamau Bell
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W. Kamau Bell is a stand-up comedian and the host and executive producer of the Emmy Award winning CNN docu-series United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell. His latest stand-up comedy special, Private School Negro, is available on Netflix. Kamau wrote a book with the easy-to-remember title, The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell: Tales of a 6' 4", African American, Heterosexual, Cisgender, Left-Leaning, Asthmatic, Black and Proud Blerd, Mama's Boy, Dad, and Stand-Up Comedian. He’s the ACLU Celebrity Ambassador for Racial Justice and serves on the advisory boards of Hollaback! and Donors Choose.