W. Kamau Bell

So, like, and also, they didn't firebomb my house. So, like, I had imagined that. But, like, I knew that, like, okay, somebody's going to come out with a thing that says we need to talk about Debbie Kamau Bell. That happened. That's a YouTube clip that YouTube suggested. You like Kamau Bell? And I was like, no. Good.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, sir. And so like, or like, I knew that the people who had the most to say about it in the negative would be people who never watched it. So even today, I will be walking down the street, happens, maybe happened six months ago, and I'll run into a black person who's around my age who's like, man, I liked everything you did except that one thing.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, sir. And so like, or like, I knew that the people who had the most to say about it in the negative would be people who never watched it. So even today, I will be walking down the street, happens, maybe happened six months ago, and I'll run into a black person who's around my age who's like, man, I liked everything you did except that one thing.

And I'm like, Cosby, Cosby, that Cosby thing. Yeah. And inevitably, I'll let them like, buh, buh, buh, buh, buh. It's like, did you see it? Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah. I mean, I think if you saw it, you might, well, . And I think what happens at that moment, one, people notice that I don't run away. I don't get scared.

And I'm like, Cosby, Cosby, that Cosby thing. Yeah. And inevitably, I'll let them like, buh, buh, buh, buh, buh. It's like, did you see it? Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah. I mean, I think if you saw it, you might, well, . And I think what happens at that moment, one, people notice that I don't run away. I don't get scared.

Because a lot of times, it's been black dudes who sort of have a little bit of that regular black energy.

Because a lot of times, it's been black dudes who sort of have a little bit of that regular black energy.

Not the private school energy. But I'm also, you know, I look like... You're pretty big, though. Yeah, I'm 6'4". People are often like, you're tall.

Not the private school energy. But I'm also, you know, I look like... You're pretty big, though. Yeah, I'm 6'4". People are often like, you're tall.

So, exactly. That could kick in at any time. But I'm sort of very aware that, like... I'm not gonna like run away from, if you're not gonna, unless you're gonna be super rude, but if you just wanna talk, I'll talk to you. And so I've talked to many people. I was in Mr. Fab's store in Oakland one time and this black dude came in and was just like, and I sort of stood there and talked to him.

So, exactly. That could kick in at any time. But I'm sort of very aware that, like... I'm not gonna like run away from, if you're not gonna, unless you're gonna be super rude, but if you just wanna talk, I'll talk to you. And so I've talked to many people. I was in Mr. Fab's store in Oakland one time and this black dude came in and was just like, and I sort of stood there and talked to him.

And by then he's like, all right, well, you know, like not that he was gonna go watch it, but he's like, this guy didn't run from me, you know? So I was aware that like, I was gonna be in situations with black people who were gonna have feelings about it. And I was gonna have to deal with those feelings.

And by then he's like, all right, well, you know, like not that he was gonna go watch it, but he's like, this guy didn't run from me, you know? So I was aware that like, I was gonna be in situations with black people who were gonna have feelings about it. And I was gonna have to deal with those feelings.

And some of the, and the other thing is I knew some of those black people would be black comedians.

And some of the, and the other thing is I knew some of those black people would be black comedians.

Yeah.

Yeah.

It's just like, but people think that's what it was. That's the most convenient version of it is like, he's been, he's been hired by the white man to take the black man down. And so like, you know, and all I can do is like, the great thing about it, having kids, a lot of my, what other people think about me, I just don't have time for it or energy for it. Yeah.

It's just like, but people think that's what it was. That's the most convenient version of it is like, he's been, he's been hired by the white man to take the black man down. And so like, you know, and all I can do is like, the great thing about it, having kids, a lot of my, what other people think about me, I just don't have time for it or energy for it. Yeah.

So it does affect me, but it doesn't affect me as much as it used to.