W. Kamau Bell

My dad was in Alabama, born and raised in Alabama. My mom was in, we were in Boston, Indianapolis, Chicago, so we moved around a little bit, yeah. Are you aware of what's being built within you? Yeah, because I would go, like when my mom lived in Boston, like even little things, like I would go to Alabama in the summer and everybody in Alabama said, you sound like you're from the north.

Then I would go back to the north and everybody would go, you sound like you're from the south. And so I was aware that like, so I don't belong in either of these places. Like nobody thinks I fit in any of these places. And I was aware that when I go to Alabama, people are just living way differently than they're living in Boston. And the cities look different and the accents are different.

Then I would go back to the north and everybody would go, you sound like you're from the south. And so I was aware that like, so I don't belong in either of these places. Like nobody thinks I fit in any of these places. And I was aware that when I go to Alabama, people are just living way differently than they're living in Boston. And the cities look different and the accents are different.

And as a kid, I didn't like Alabama. And now as an adult, I'm like, thank God I did that. So I have some perspective. But yeah, so it was like, I was always aware, like, you know, I'm like living in my grandmother's house and her dog's name is Freeway. And he runs around the neighborhood and people come by every few minutes to check on my grandmother. It's like a very classic.

And as a kid, I didn't like Alabama. And now as an adult, I'm like, thank God I did that. So I have some perspective. But yeah, so it was like, I was always aware, like, you know, I'm like living in my grandmother's house and her dog's name is Freeway. And he runs around the neighborhood and people come by every few minutes to check on my grandmother. It's like a very classic.

She's on her Lazy Boy watching her stories. You know, so it's like a very slowed down version of life, summers in Alabama versus like Boston, where it's like...

She's on her Lazy Boy watching her stories. You know, so it's like a very slowed down version of life, summers in Alabama versus like Boston, where it's like...

I mean, I was an only child who loved being an only child, so rarely lonely, but I certainly learned, I learned how to keep my own company. Yeah. I learned how to like. I don't understand when children are like, I wish I had a brother. I didn't have any of that. I learned how to entertain myself. I think that's where the beginnings of being a stand-up comic, because I had access to my own

I mean, I was an only child who loved being an only child, so rarely lonely, but I certainly learned, I learned how to keep my own company. Yeah. I learned how to like. I don't understand when children are like, I wish I had a brother. I didn't have any of that. I learned how to entertain myself. I think that's where the beginnings of being a stand-up comic, because I had access to my own

process and thoughts all the time.

process and thoughts all the time.

Only as much as it made it easier to move around when you fit in, you know? Yeah. So, like, so I think, and I'm in high school, I'm in Chicago. It's also, like, I'm in high school when, like, hip-hop is fully going mainstream. Like, I'm in high school in the late 80s. So hip-hop is this thing that is now like it. And I'm like, I like it, but it's not like my, you know. It's a type of music.

Only as much as it made it easier to move around when you fit in, you know? Yeah. So, like, so I think, and I'm in high school, I'm in Chicago. It's also, like, I'm in high school when, like, hip-hop is fully going mainstream. Like, I'm in high school in the late 80s. So hip-hop is this thing that is now like it. And I'm like, I like it, but it's not like my, you know. It's a type of music.

I mean, I could do every lyric to like Rapper's Delight. I was there for all those things. But like when I went to rap shows, I went to see, I remember I saw Arrested Development.

I mean, I could do every lyric to like Rapper's Delight. I was there for all those things. But like when I went to rap shows, I went to see, I remember I saw Arrested Development.

Yeah, exactly, yeah. So I'm aware that I'm, and then the bands I'm listening to, I'm listening to Black Rock, Living Color, Fishbone. So I'm aware that from that, and I go to the Living Color concert, and there's more black people on stage than in the crowd. And then I go to like, you know. Which they loved, I'm sure. This is what we did it for. This is why we started a band.

Yeah, exactly, yeah. So I'm aware that I'm, and then the bands I'm listening to, I'm listening to Black Rock, Living Color, Fishbone. So I'm aware that from that, and I go to the Living Color concert, and there's more black people on stage than in the crowd. And then I go to like, you know. Which they loved, I'm sure. This is what we did it for. This is why we started a band.

And so I'm aware that the things that I like like associate with,

And so I'm aware that the things that I like like associate with,

whiteness even when they're not white yeah like fishbone is like from compton you know right so like it's not so but and the things that black people like and there's and this was before the internet so like there's no way to even find my own people now i think well that's what's funny is because it it ended up there are you weren't alone no but you were isolated yeah and i didn't there was no way to sort of like go on a thing and go hey who else what other black yeah there was no there were no chat boards or no uh