W. Kamau Bell Interview: Alt-Right Brawls, Trump, Season 2, and Why He Didn't Hug Richard Spencer

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W. Kamau Bell Interview: The Berkeley Comedian Chats Alt-Right Brawls, Trump, Season 2 Of His CNN Show, His New Book, And Why He Didn't Hug Richard Spencer

A CNN commercial promoting the season-two premiere of W. Kamau Bell’s United Shades of America shows the Berkeley resident seated at a table, face-to-face with one of the most-loathed men in the country, Richard Spencer. If you’re not up to speed, Spencer is the guy who supposedly coined the term “alt right” and, last year, convened a white nationalist conference in Washington, D.C., where he shouted “Hail Trump!” from behind a podium, complete with a Nazi salute. That video went viral. As did the video of Spencer getting sucker-punched in the face by a protester at inauguration day. Anyway, in the commercial, Spencer tells Bell that he “just wants to bathe in white privilege,” to which the comedian responds with an at once incredulous and disgusted look — and zero punchline.

Restraint: It is a common sentiment during Bell’s TV series, which launched season two this past Sunday night. The comedian crisscrosses the country, meeting with everyone from Klu Klux Klan leaders to spring break bros. Some folks criticize Bell for amplifying voices that nary deserve attention. But, on the heels’ of Donald Trump’s victory, Bell argues that it’s more crucial than ever to confront these people head-on.

“People don’t realize these ideas are as pervasive as they are,” he said this past week during a phone interview.

In addition to his TV program’s second act, Bell dropped his first book, The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell, on Monday. He will read from it and sign copies this weekend in Oakland.

Read more: http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/w-kamau-bell-interview-the-berkeley-comedian-chats-alt-right-brawls-trump-season-2-of-his-cnn-show-his-new-book-and-why-he-didnt-hug-ri/Content?oid=6576028