::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

United Shades of America will return to CNN for season four this month.  United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell, produced by Main Event Media and All3Media America, is an eight-part Emmy Award-winning CNN Original Series that follows sociopolitical comedian Bell as he explores communities across the country to understand the unique challenges they face. In the season four premiere, Bell heads to Dallas to learn about the business of megachurches. In subsequent episodes he will explore the experiences of Hmong Americans, black Midwesterners, white activists in Seattle, women fighting for reproductive justice in Mississippi, the LGBTQ+ community in Salt Lake City, and residents of D.C. that represent a vibrant culture distinct from the politics surrounding them.  "Everywhere I go - airports, coffee shops, the park with my kids - people tell me how much United Shades of America means to them," said Bell. "They say it's the first time they've seen the...

buzzz worthy. . . By Mona Austin Fairness and equality for all means Whites can't tell Blacks how to express their pride or hurt. Black History Month 2016 was uncomfortable for me.  On all fronts the "celebration" of Blackness was challenged. The racist fear and rejection of Blackness was on display all month long.   From actress Stacy Dash saying the month was not necessary to #oscarssowhite dissing Black talent  to Beyonce being demonized in the media for embracing Black pride, crushing Black progress for sport was a disconcerting norm.  Of all of the narratives that gave pause to the need for a racism awakening, it was the responses to the performances of Kendrick Lamar and Beyonce that caught my attention the most. How is it possible that both Beyonce and Kendrick Lamar artistically took a political  stand for social justice for Blacks on national television and Lamar's work was praised and Beyonce's was protested? Beyonce's Superbowl 50 per...