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Quote by W. Kamau Bell

“It doesn't do any good to just be on the side of black people. The funnier comedic position is to be on the side of oppressed people in general.”

Quote by W. Kamau Bell

Author

W. Kamau Bell is an American stand-up comic, writer, and television host. Known for his unique African American perspective and humor, he often shares his stories and opinions on television shows and comedy tours. more

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“I'm of the opinion that if you step on stage and you're not a straight white male, you're automatically making a political statement whether you know it or not.”

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“You pretty much have to be bad at it [stand-up] for several years to get good at it, so there's no avoiding embarrassing yourself.”

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“I think a lot of people get into stand-up to be the center of attention, which is perfectly legitimate. But I think I got in there to be heard.”

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“When I was a teenager, black pride became newly popular again. Suddenly a lot of black people were wearing the fake kente cloth and red black and green and Bob Marley. That was sort of my window into finding my own identity as a black person.”

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“There is a linear way in which black comedians are expected to talk about race by all audiences - black people are like this, white people are like this - and it really is hard to break through that. I never was doing it that way.”

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