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.
W. Kamau BellI 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.
W. Kamau BellThere 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.
W. Kamau BellThere's an elitism that comes out with the entertainment industry. I'll talk about some shows, but I'm not gonna say that you're dumb for watching one over the other. I just let it go. I don't have to declare a fatwa on any of these things. I've gotten over some of my elitism.
W. Kamau Bell