United Shades of America Season 6 Episode 6 The Color of America
- TV14
- June 6, 2021
- 42 min
-
(13)
In season 6, episode 6 of United Shades of America entitled The Color of America, host W. Kamau Bell examines how race affects politics, culture, and everyday life in the United States. Throughout the episode, Bell travels to various areas in the country to examine the differences and similarities in experiences between different racial groups.
The episode begins with Bell in Brooklyn, New York, visiting a barbershop owned by a Black business owner. Bell engages in a candid conversation with the barbers and customers about their experiences with gentrification in their neighborhood. The conversation also touches on the differing beauty standards and practices for people of different races. From there, Bell travels to Washington D.C. to meet with a group of young activists fighting for voting rights and immigrant rights.
In Chicago, Bell visits a historically Black neighborhood to talk with residents and business owners about the challenges they face living in a largely segregated city. Bell also touches on the topics of black-on-black violence and police brutality in this area. From Chicago, Bell heads to Tucson, Arizona, to meet with members of the Tohono O'odham Nation to discuss their history and current struggles with the United States government.
Finally, Bell ends his journey in Los Angeles, California, where he meets with various Latinx communities and business owners to discuss the experiences of Latinos in America. This includes a conversation with a DACA recipient and a visit to an Indigenous Mesoamerican restaurant in the city.
Throughout the episode, Bell focuses on the intersectionality of race and how it affects various aspects of society. From beauty standards to police brutality, The Color of America examines the impact of racial disparities on multiple communities. It is a powerful and thought-provoking episode that sheds light on the United States' complex relationship with race.