feature: w. kamau bell talks about being “big, black, and male” in america

“I’ve been endowed with the triple crown of being killed for no good reason: big, black, and male.” In an interview with Vanity Fair, on the back of recent events in Ferguson, comedian and social commentator W. Kamau Bell discusses what his fears as a 6ft4 black man living in America – in fact, the same height as Mike Brown. Check out some excerpts from the interview, below; and read the entire piece HERE.

By Alexander Aplerku, AFROPUNK Contributor

I am afraid of the cops. Absolutely petrified of the cops. Now understand, I’ve never been arrested or held for questioning. I’ve never been told that I “fit the description.” But that doesn’t change a thing. I am afraid of cops the way that spiders are afraid of boots.

Michael Brown, the unarmed Missouri 18-year-old shot dead by police this summer, was also six foot four. Depending on your perspective, I could be described as a “gentle giant,” the way that teachers described Brown. Or I could be described as a “demon,” the way that Officer Darren Wilson described Michael Brown in his grand-jury testimony. 

I don’t engage in any type of behavior that should place me in a cop’s crosshairs. I don’t live in “one of those neighborhoods,” or hang out with a “bad crowd,” (unless you count comedians). I am not involved in felonious activity. I’m not bragging. I’m just boring. But the fact that I’m not involved in any of that stuff doesn’t leave me any more confident I won’t be killed.