United Shades of America

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.

While I appreciate that the show explores multiple sides to salient issues, I can't help but be frustrated by the fact that there were no episodes on Asian Communities in the USA. There's so much for people to learn about in regards how Muslims are tackling Islamaphobia, how East Asians tackle misrepresentation and whitewashing in media, and so much more.

This show is alright, but it's nothing comprehensive. If you're going to call a show United Shades of America, you need to capture all the shades...especially the ones almost nobody speaks of.

Having never commented on IMDb, it is an assumption on my part that I will be able to edit this review once the series has actually premiered.

I have to wonder why this show has a rating already when it has yet to air. Walter Kamau Bell has never denied that he is a politically polarizing figure, but I don't know what would motivate users to vote down something that they have never seen, and therefore of which they could judge neither the journalistic nor the entertainment value.

Perhaps those Klan guys weren't happy with the clip editing.

Regarding said clip and related interviews, I think that this show looks promising as an exploration of American diversity, not just ethnically but culturally. If Bell can remain in the role of either calm observer or funny comedian without being overly proselytic towards the audience, it should have pretty broad appeal.

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!!