The average comedian talks to you. But W. Kamau Bell is far from average. 

His aim is to talk with you and with his entire audience. Whether he’s doing live stand-up or performing on TV, Bell starts conversations about race, class and politics that are both uncomfortable and hilarious. 

Bell is the star and host of CNN’s new 8-part series United Shades of America, where part of his job is to engage folks from Alaska to Florida in those very conversations. 

He’s in town to perform a benefit for Housing Forward at the Merle Reskin Theatre at DePaul University, and he joins Morning Shift to lay out his unique perspective on our current cultural moment and where he thinks it’s headed.