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W. Kamau Bell Speaker
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W. Kamau Bell

Sociopolitical Comedian, Producer, and Documentarian
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About

Gender: Male
Nationality: United States
Languages: English
Travels from: United States

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Biography Highlights

  • 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!'

Biography

Sociopolitical comedian, Emmy- and Peabody-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.

Videos

Media, podcast appearances and interviews

Speaking videos

Popular Talks

In this uplifting and interactive workshop, bestselling co-authors W. Kamau Bell and Kate Schatz share the origin of their New York Times bestselling Do the Work!: An Anti-Racist Activity Book, the goals of the book, and lead the audience through some of the books transformative activities. Bell and Schatz bring joy, laughter, and levity to anti-racism work, and inspire audiences to listen, show up, and do better.

 

Available: In person, Virtually

In his captivating keynote address, W. Kamau Bell, a renowned cultural commentator, skillfully navigates the intricate landscape of American culture, infusing humor and insight to unravel complex social issues. Attendees can expect an engaging and thought-provoking exploration that encourages reflection and dialogue as Bell invites them to join a dynamic conversation on the ever-evolving tapestry of contemporary American life.

Available: In person, Virtually

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.

Available: In person, Virtually

W. 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.

Available: In person, Virtually
W. Kamau'S

Testimonials

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 Major Law Firm

The university, the faculty and students - all LOVED Kamau...this is our second time with him, and now we all want him back a third time next year - but IN PERSON! The students across our campus were completely engaged in the webinar...Many positive comments on the part focused on how to talk with people who disagree, and how to gauge 'trusted' sources. Thank you and thanks to Kamau and the entire team that made this happen!

University of California, Santa Barbara

The event was fabulous. Kamau was amazing!

MV CDO Summit

Kamau was amazing.

Robert Toigo Foundation

Books

W. Kamau Bell book

Do the Work!: An Antiracist Activity Book

Overwhelmed by racial injustice? Outraged by the news? Find yourself asking, “What can I doooooo?” DO THE WORK! Revelatory and thought-provoking, this highly illustrated, highly informative interactive workbook gives readers a unique, hands-on understanding of systemic racism–and how we can dismantle it. Packed with activities, games, illustrations, comics, and eye-opening conversation, Do the Work! challenges readers to think critically and act effectively. Try the “Separate but Not Equal” crossword puzzle. Play “Bootstrapping, the Game” to understand the myth of meritocracy. Test your knowledge of racist laws by playing “Jim Crow or Jim Faux?” Have hard conversations with your people (scripts and talking points included). Be open to new ideas and diversify your “feed” with a scavenger hunt. Team up with an accountability partner and find hundreds of ideas, resources, and opportunities to DO THE WORK! Ready to get started?

Read more..

Do the Work!: An Antiracist Activity Book

Overwhelmed by racial injustice? Outraged by the news? Find yourself asking, "What can I doooooo?" DO THE WORK! Revelatory and thought-provoking, this highly illustrated, highly informative interactive workbook gives readers a unique, hands-on understanding of systemic racism--and how we can dismantle it. Packed with activities, games, illustrations, comics, and eye-opening conversation, Do the Work! challenges readers to think critically and act effectively. Try the "Separate but Not Equal" crossword puzzle. Play "Bootstrapping, the Game" to understand the myth of meritocracy. Test your knowledge of racist laws by playing "Jim Crow or Jim Faux?" Have hard conversations with your people (scripts and talking points included). Be open to new ideas and diversify your "feed" with a scavenger hunt. Team up with an accountability partner and find hundreds of ideas, resources, and opportunities to DO THE WORK! Ready to get started?
Buy the book
Buy the book
W. Kamau Bell book

The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell

You may know W. Kamau Bell from his new, Emmy-nominated hit show on CNN, United Shades of America. Or maybe you&;ve read about him in the New York Times, which called him &;the most promising new talent in political comedy in many years.&; Or maybe from The New Yorker, fawning over his brand of humor writing: “Bell&;s gimmick is intersectional progressivism: he treats racial, gay, and women&;s issues as inseparable.” After all this love and praise, it&;s time for the next step: a book. The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell is a humorous, well-informed take on the world today, tackling a wide range of issues, such as race relations; fatherhood; the state of law enforcement today; comedians and superheroes; right-wing politics; left-wing politics; failure; his interracial marriage; white men; his up-bringing by very strong-willed, race-conscious, yet ideologically opposite parents; his early days struggling to find his comedic voice, then his later days struggling to find his comedic voice; why he never seemed to fit in with the Black comedy scene . . . or the white comedy scene; how he was a Black nerd way before that became a thing; how it took his wife and an East Bay lesbian to teach him that racism and sexism often walk hand in hand; and much, much more.

Read more..

The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell

You may know W. Kamau Bell from his new, Emmy-nominated hit show on CNN, United Shades of America. Or maybe you&;ve read about him in the New York Times, which called him &;the most promising new talent in political comedy in many years.&; Or maybe from The New Yorker, fawning over his brand of humor writing: "Bell&;s gimmick is intersectional progressivism: he treats racial, gay, and women&;s issues as inseparable." After all this love and praise, it&;s time for the next step: a book. The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell is a humorous, well-informed take on the world today, tackling a wide range of issues, such as race relations; fatherhood; the state of law enforcement today; comedians and superheroes; right-wing politics; left-wing politics; failure; his interracial marriage; white men; his up-bringing by very strong-willed, race-conscious, yet ideologically opposite parents; his early days struggling to find his comedic voice, then his later days struggling to find his comedic voice; why he never seemed to fit in with the Black comedy scene . . . or the white comedy scene; how he was a Black nerd way before that became a thing; how it took his wife and an East Bay lesbian to teach him that racism and sexism often walk hand in hand; and much, much more.
Buy the book
Buy the book

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