United Shades of America

Using the past as an excuse isn't healthy or productive for anyone.

This is anything but uniting. We all made this country what it is. Lets focus on the positive changes and come together for the future.

Now in its second season, CNN's series 'United Shades of America' addresses different issues throughout the country ~ with a completely different spin. Hosted by African-American standup comedian W. Kamau Bell, he presents things through a refreshingly different prism.

For example, Bell interviews white privilege advocate Richard Spencer, a neo-Nazi who abhors any race that is not his own, travels to Puerto Rico to talk to its residents about it becoming the 51st state, and what it's like to be a Muslim in small town America. It is interesting to hear stories reported by a person of color as they have insights to things that may be unknown to mainstream white America.

Past episodes have focused on people who have gone 'off the grid', what is entailed in buying a gun, and the dangerous street gangs of Chicago. All in all a very fascinating show, especially since it's addressed from a new perspective.

More "woke" crap. I'm all for exposing the past for what really happened, but this is just off the rails and showing one side that is filled with holes.

This show is an incredible masterpiece, featuring the crucial narratives of underrepresented and often oppressed racial groups. It dives deep into the concept of inequities in different environments and how our surroundings shape who we are. W. Kamau Bell is a visionary artist and comedian, and his show helps inspire change and inclusiveness.

Originally rated it a 9 due to the CRAZY IN-DEPTH coverage & storytelling Kamau gets to do with minority groups, but after seeing all the WHITE CONSERVATIVE HATE here in the reviews, I bumped it up to 10.

There's some AMAZING moments & artful storytelling here. As someone of mixed race who has faced racism for BOTH of my races (Haole/Japanese), I've long been into these stories of our humanity.

Not every episode is for everybody & I'm not particularly drawn to EVERY episode, but the one's I have seen have affected me deeply.

I'm also a documentary videographer on behalf of Native Hawaiians & aim to tell stories in a similar quick-paced/artsy cinematography/made for short-attention span audiences technique....so I'm also JEALOUS of Kamau & his team.

Cant wait for the "Hawai'i for Hawaiians" episode...MANY OF US HERE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT!!! ALOHA!!