© 2024 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Public Media from Michigan State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

“Ending Racism” at MSU with comedy: W. Kamau Bell

W. Kamau Bell photo
Courtesy photo
W. Kamau Bell

Stand-up comic W. Kamau Bell has long made his mark by making people laugh while addressing serious matters of race. His most recent TV project is “United Shades of America” on CNN.

Bell’s current comedy tour of college campuses is called “Ending Racism in About an Hour,” and it stopped at the MSU Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre Monday night.

In a conversation before the show, Bell discussed the Academy Awards. He was happy to see wins for movies like "Moonlight" and the attention given to movies like "Loving," "Fences" and "Hidden Figures."

He went on to say that "the #oscarssowhite thing wasn't just about black people. It was also about Latinos, trasgendered people. It's people outside of the white, straight paradigm.

W. Kamau Bell's CNN show "United Shades of America" is up for an Emmy Award and has been renewed for a second season. "We're almost at the end of editing," he explains, "and it will be out at the end of April. We'll have eight new episodes. It's better than last season by far."

Scott Pohl has maintained an on-call schedule reporting for WKAR following his retirement after 36 years on the air at the station.
Related Content
Help WKAR continue delivering essential reporting and programming to mid-Michigan by making your Giving Tuesday gift. We're aiming for 300 donations by December 3rd, and each early gift will strengthen your community resource and support the programs you love. Support your community public media station today.