W. Kamau Bell on "1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed," a documentary exploring mixed-race experience

[@Pou1gie1]

The first time I was called a n*gg*r was when I was 11 and the girl was 5 or 6. She was the sister to my friend and tennis teammate, We were getting in the car because her mother was carpooling us to a match and she said to me, "Get out of my car! My dad said he doesn't want n*gg*rs in our car!" So, yes, kids can be brutally honest. And if you aren't teaching them about race and right from wrong as a parent, the world will. BTW, I am mixed and light skinned. So, yes, this does happen to light skinned people, too.

[@plz1277]

Agreed! I once was told when I asked a girl out that she wasn’t allowed to date brown people. I was maybe in middle school. 😮 It was then I realized I was in trouble in this world.

[@Hello_Pri]

I’m very sorry that happened to you. Agree that kids need to learn young and they understand. They have so much understanding in their little hearts and minds and are so open to the world if you let them be. I know my kids are (they are also mixed-race as is my husband).

[@radiantlibra87]

This is the ultimate proof that racism is taught and passed down generations, still. So sad smh

[@daynaal-shammary5141]

We should pay attention to how and what children have to say. They have the best attitude until life and other people give them reasons to not trust anymore.

[@bambooblue74]

Waiting for this for almost 50 years…

[@forestforthetrees1111]

I wish it wasn't on HBO because other streaming channels are easier to get to and more subscribed to. I would really love to see this. W. Kamau Bell is fantastic.

[@ybemad]

Yeah they never release this type of content on physical media or put it up for purchase anywhere.

[@janicescott-pair97]

Thank you. My niece is biracial, and I believe that it is important to speak about this. 😊

[@marlonsmith1400]

I loved watching the documentary, especially because I love hearing children speak to the complexity of identity categories. However, I do wish ADULTS learn to have a more sophisticated conversation on race.. There were many times in the documentary wherein the conversation conflated race with nationality, sexuality, or ethnicity. Part of that happens because being Black/African American can be viewed as both a race and an ethnicity. For instance one can be black and Latino or Black and African..Therefore understanding that Filipino or Chinese are nationalities and not racial categories helps us understand why anti-black racism shows up in those countries. However, I was glad that the documentary also attempted to briefly highlight the way geographic locations inform ideas on racial categories. I"m mixed, my father is from Louisiana and my mother is from Texas...But unlike my daughter, I am not biracial. So the question for me is how does race inform other forms of identity categories. That is what we need to understand in my view, because that helps us understand why anti-black racism shows up in Asian, Latino and even African cultures. For example, what does it mean to be Afro-latino or Afro-Asiatic...Lastly, I think part of these conversations lack a type of sophistication because the only way to have a broader conversation in our society now (or that is digestible) is to have them led by a comedian and not someone who studies it as a profession..

[@Jan96106]

Yes, it did conflate those. That is because race is a social construct.

[@apalmer3472]

Great job! My parents (black/Filipina) tried their best to keep us in the know. Especially bc society would be asking. They told me that if anyone ever asked what I’m mixed with (which was a lot) was to say “ peas and carrots or to mind their business”😂

[@Hello_Pri]

Great interview! Looking forward to watching the documentary.

[@ThatsJustMyBabyDaddy]

I thought he was gonna say he was mixed. 😂😂

[@DemureDarlings]

Me too 😂

[@SaHayes-it2uw]

Tbh, he probably has some mixture in his ancestry since that’s not uncommon.

[@TheSitcheeation]

I really dislike how Kamau consistently puts the burden of understanding on POC. All of the brown people have a similar narrative, but he doesn’t question where it comes from or why. He approaches these issues with a playfulness that dismisses the lived experiences of POC.

[@momofmany2129]

Great observation ❤

[@vicky924]

I love this my daughter is mixed Black/White and I will watch this with her 👍🏽

[@patriciaredick9849]

Beautiful.

[@MsOlga1956]

Thank you, Gal & Guys being Mix was not easily excepted 60 years ago. This was my Hope for all children to see themselves. Peace be upon all. Ty W. Kamau Bell

[@SaHayes-it2uw]

This was great. Very eye opening.

[@teresaborelli8075]

beautiful

[@yahya4370]

I feel like Kamau is obsessed with mixing of races. I don’t believe he is truly happy in his Black skin.

[@TheSitcheeation]

It’s clear he isn’t. I believe the man is traumatized & regards R jokingly as a defense mechanism. He makes things light & comfortable for the curious, at our expense.

[@yahya4370]

It’s a little cringy for me.

[@TheSitcheeation]

@@yahya4370 It’s super cringe, but it’s comfortable for the masses, so he’s lauded & promoted.

[@Godzilladad]

😂😂😂 y’all stupid

[@rubychew6535]

This documentary should be shown in upper elementary classes. Adults could learn from this film. His next documentary should be on transracial adoption.

[@NicoleAZ145]

Gayle was not having that!! Haha. We knew what he meant though, it’s all good.

[@ruthpicon2203]

I watched this doc last night and enjoyed it a lot. Great job Kamau! Watching this doc with your kids is a great way to talk about race and racism.

[@Laflower60]

Awesome lil man; Miles

[@UXtatic]

The second kid resemblance to Queen Latifah is intense.❤

[@lifewithcamille517]

I can’t wait to watch this. Gayles bracelet is sooo loud in the microphone

[@CausallyCam]

Enjoyed the documentary, just wish there was representation of my family shown….

[@mishwatson9614]

Hello cousin, I identity as both black and white bc I never want anyone to place me in a box regarding my identity. I was rejected and still face rejection from both blacks and whites.

[@kakikarei]

Gayle's bracelets are so loud! 😏🙄 Interesting that Kamau Bell is partnered to a white woman. Actually....not surprised.

[@yvonneplant9434]

Did he ask any old people what being " mixed" was like in the 50s/60s? No, of course not.

[@thebrownrecluse2479]

Did you watch the documentary because he did do that.

[@MSMedia-le2mi]

​@@thebrownrecluse2479 Exactly. I viewed it and there's definitely view points from elders as well

[@gloriamungo9962]

Now, 75 yrs old and went through this mixed mess, I was called Red Fox😂😥

[@lifeisbeautiful7452]

I bet you only watched this clip.

[@TheSitcheeation]

He gave one elder 2 minutes & didn’t allow him to expound. There was a younger biracial man from the bay who spoke sense, but i think it was clear to all involved the tone, direction & narrative of this doc so it was generally pretty pastel & comfortable for the curious.

[@alphantom0657]

I mean this in the best way possible, Young Queen Latifah? 0:48 Beautiful family, Kamau

[@lashonify]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@jblank1862]

Ugh. This guy again!😒

[@lashonify]

💜💜💜💜💜

[@donnag7908]

WOW! Gayle needs to take the bracelets off! It’s so annoying to hear them clinking in the microphone

[@gloriamungo9962]

👍👍👍

[@trishonya]

Not a Lama and Corgi 😢!

[@TheSitcheeation]

And he left it in! 💀 It would seem, knowing the history, he’d edit that out…but he leaves cute, dangerous crumbs…

[@dmcfadden3234]

I approve

[@USA-CANADA1480]

Would somebody from CNN for the love of God please tell that guy to trim his hair and fix his looks before he appears on national television! God. Really. People are so afraid to say anything

[@ruthdepew7212]

Name a single "Black" person in America who is not mixed race. Black Americans who get DNA tests generally find that their DNA is about 50% European. All mixed race means in the context of this video is having one parent who looks Black and one that does not.

[@shawnie2084]

That's for ADOS not all black people. I'm half Jamaican, both grandfathers were born in Jamaican, and I'm 91% Sub-Saharan African. All black people in America aren't ADOS, therefore all of us aren't mixed race.

[@stef2144]

Clearly this comment was written by a person who hasn't watched the documentary, and who has some animus that is negative about the topic. I found this documentary to be illuminating, powerful and inclusive. I heartily recommend watching it in support of increasing our capacity to have difficult conversations about difficult topics. Avoiding them is unhelpful.

[@Jimmy_none]

Black Americans are usually 15% European not 50

[@henrylockett7838]

The average African American is not 50% European, LoL. We can be anywhere from 5% to 30% European, more or less. Average somewhere between 15 and 20%. I used to think we were more European too until I took 3 DNA tests and have been watching many videos over the past 7 years.

[@pietrycranberry6621]

​@@Jimmy_noneThat's an up to range and the reason we have European blood is from violation of our ancestors and a mulatto mixing back on their African side so their blood isn't filtered out.

[@Mimi-cg2cw]

This man said a lot of nasty things about... I'm Blk 69 F a Oakland native and I find him disgusting

[@tinygoat2531]

Raccoon still kicking

[@jusletursoulglobaby]

i never quite understand the pushed for the academic push for mixed race studies... nor do i quite understand the need for the doc. academically, ok, yes, i do. socially, i do not. we know, esp with everyone running to get ancestry tests, everyone has different ethnicities and races in their lineage. with that, it seems silly seeking broader categorizations of races given how INHERENTLY racist they are. we know, or most know, WHY they were developed. if we know the purpose was to... and it continues to place WS at the top and seeks to perpetuate an unethical, unequal system of oppression - why? any biracial person is greeted by society based on hue. i struggle to see the merit. only thing any biracial person needs to understand is WS and how fked up it is and the history that has plagued society since inception. beyond that, how one navigates their own life is irrelevant.

[@youreaquickone]

I don't agree at all. I have mixed kids and their experience on this planet is very interesting to me. Hearing from other kids also interests me. If you are not interested in the lived experiences of little children don't watch it, don't bother commenting on it. Not everything is about you.

[@jusletursoulglobaby]

@@youreaquickone not everything is about you either. follow your own advice. my point was very clear. next time bypass and stfu if the pov isn't for you

[@TheSunshinefee]

why am i not surprised he has a white woman and light skinned daughters

[@maxlinder5262]

I still don't like Nate's over confident sitting ....his body language...... that's just me .. just my opinion 😮

[@joerandom1175]

Thanks for your racist opinion that wasn't necessary

[@antoniothompson5514]

@@joerandom1175 Yup! Mr. Linder's response was completely unnecessary!

[@woo3131]

I dont like you comment, but that's my opinion!

[@joerandom1175]

@@woo3131 hey…just pointing out how weird it is that they shared an opinion of not liking confident black people. Usually bigots don’t like being called out, so that tracks. You a bigot as well?

[@kelleylmiller]

Maybe go back to the drawing board and ask yourself why you are so bothered by another man's confidence? Dig deeper.

[@bobby12348]

It a problems so stop creating mix kids. Gale speak for yourself .

[@lizabetx483]

What is the problem?

[@mulattovanguard]

Mulatto is the future

[@youreaquickone]

What do you think Mariah Carey is? Let her know she's a problem to you. Pathetic