Adored stand up comedian, come investigative documentarian, W.Kamau Bell, who has crossed a bridge one never considered. That was the opening act of his “United Shades of America” program airing on Sundays on CNN. The network has a new blockbuster on its hands, if Sunday’s premiere was any indication.
The series opener features Bell traipsing through the deep south bastions of Klan country, armed only, one presumes, with a winning smile, a camera crew, some Pepto, and some antacid tablets in his rucksack.
Television has long-trudged into unfathomable trenches for the lead. For compelling journalism, and high-quality entertainment. CNN has achieved this formula in grand fashion, with “Shades.”
Bell’s premise for the program is based on something daring, and unconventional. He said, “The idea behind the series is to send an African-American comedian to places that you wouldn't expect him to go, or to places where he absolutely shouldn't go.”
Evidently, Bell had input as to how to open the series, and remarked about starting off with the KKK: “I have always been curious about the Ku Klux Klan. Some of that is the natural curiosity that potential prey has for its most obvious and most identifiable predator. The Ku Klux Klan is America's original and homegrown terrorist group.
“And while many Americans spend time worrying about terrorist threats from outside of this country, America actually still houses people who align themselves, dress up as, and practice the traditions of the Ku Klu Klan.” He also said he favored opening the series with such a controversial topic because if the show tanked after the premiere, he’d have canned a butt-kicking show for all time, and “become a legend.” A legend is born.
Mr. Bell takes us on a journey into areas most people, especially black people, have no burning desire to view. As the host said, “Most black people who ever got to see a cross on fire, didn’t get to leave.” Sleepy town, after quaint “Mayberry-esque,” single traffic light, country corner, Bell with his imposing frame, strides into the belly of the proverbial beast, beginning with a covert meeting with a Klan leader, in the woods, at night, on a dark, rural, dirt road.
The discourse, while testy, and tense, was shockingly more courteous that this writer had contemplated. Based on the sizzle trailer, I was made sufficiently nervous about the outcome for the reporter. To my pleasure, the encounter ended with an ample sigh of relief, and a healthy measure of disbelief. What was I expecting to happen on camera, on a national television show? As a black man? You can only imagine.
As quietly as he arrived on the dirt road, he left. In one piece. Then onto the next meeting, this time, to some white people who were presumed to be racists, but, rather, turned out to be quite kind, civil, and welcoming souls. She said, as Bell approached, “It is so nice to have a person of color in our town”. She hugged Bell on the street corner, as he interviewed her about the tenor of racism in her small town. He showed different aspects of the local culture, and simply documented the truths as they were revealed to him.
That is the genius of the series. It takes a preconception and, rather than perpetuating, or enabling, the imagination’s musings--- and shines light upon the bare, real, facts of the thing. In this case Bell crosses borders, and lines in the sand, not only to seek the truth, dispel paranoic notions, and to share the story of what he finds, as he finds it.
In coming episodes, Mr. Bell will visit other places, and people, in surroundings which he feels he could be uncomfortable, and interested in seeking truths. He picked one hell of an opening topic. The pitch to audiences was perfect, intriguing, and disconcerting all at once. I had to be sure not to miss it.
There are thousands of programming hours on television, contrary to what the political news cycle demonstrates. I, for one, am thrilled that CNN has added yet another program which pings my mind and my heart. Their documentary programming is exemplary, and a, much needed, respite from the trumpeting of some.
As Bell ventures out to meet America, we get to see America. Our America--- and make our own decisions--- based on fact, not conjecture. On evidence, not fear. All this, with a good amount of humor artfully blended into the treat.
“United Shades of America”, on CNN (Sundays). Hosted by W. Kamau Bell. At long last, something to look forward to each week. #WhatToWatch.
By Marcinho Savant, Staff Writer
CLEVELAND — Cleveland officials chose a settlement amount of $6 million on Monday, to end the lawsuit concerning the killing of a black, twelve year old with a pellet pistol. The child was named Tamir Rice, and was killed by a white officer outside Cudell Recreation Center center.
The U.S. District Court of the city revealed the city will pay two disbursements of $3 million; one this year, and another they year after.
There is available video showing the new officer, Timothy Loehmann shooting upon exiting the vehicle. On the following day, the child perished. No blame has been admitted in the settlement agreement.
According to Wikipedia: “The shooting of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old boy (June 25, 2002 – November 23, 2014), occurred on November 22, 2014, in Cleveland, Ohio. Two police officers, 26-year-old Timothy Loehmann and 46-year-old Frank Garmback, responded after receiving a police dispatch call "of a male black sitting on a swing and pointing a gun at people" in a city park. A caller reported that a male was pointing "a pistol" at random people in the Cudell Recreation Center. At the beginning of the call and again in the middle he says of the pistol "it's probably fake." Toward the end of the two-minute call, the caller stated "he is probably a juvenile." However, this information was not relayed to Loehmann or Garmback on the initial dispatch. The officers reported that upon their arrival, Rice reached towards a gun in his waistband. Within two seconds of arriving on the scene, Loehmann fired two shots before the zone car had come to a halt, hitting Rice once in the torso. Neither officer administered any first aid to Rice after the shooting. He died on the following day.
Source: Cleveland.com Youtube
Rice's gun was later found to be an Airsoft replica that lacked the orange safety feature marking it as a replica and not a true firearm. A surveillance video of the shooting was released by police four days later, on November 26. On June 3, the County Sheriff's Office released a statement in which they declared their investigation to be completed and that they had turned their findings over to the county prosecutor. The prosecution presented evidence to a grand jury, which declined to indict.
In the aftermath of the shooting, it was reported that Loehmann, in his previous job as a police officer in the Cleveland suburb of Independence, had been deemed an emotionally unstable recruit and unfit for duty. The incident received national and international coverage, in part due to the time of its occurrence, coming shortly after the police shootings of several other black males.”
Although historic in financial terms, no amount of money can adequately compensate for the loss of a life.
“In a situation such as this, there is no such thing as closure or justice. Nothing will bring Tamir back. His unnecessary and premature death leave a gaping hole for those who knew and loved him that can never be filled.
“Regrettably, Tamir’s death is not an isolated event. The problem of police violence, especially in communities of color, is a crisis plaguing our nation. It is the sincere hope of the Rice family that Tamir’s death will stimulate a movement for genuine change in our society and our nation’s policing so that no family ever has to suffer a tragedy such as this again.”
Two years following the killing, in response to the award, Mayor Frank Jackson said "there is no price you can put on the life of a 12-year-old child." He said the shooting "should not have happened", at a news conference Monday.
Marcinho Savant is a classically-trained singer, vocal coach, conductor, professional singer, and stage performer.