Bravo stars discuss racism in new ‘Race in America’ special

Bravo wants to talk about race.

On Sunday, August 9 at 10 p.m., some of its biggest stars will participate in “Race in America: A Movement Not a Moment,” a special hosted by Nina Parker.

“RHOBH” star Garcelle Beauvais, “RHOA” stars Porsha Williams, Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker, “RHOP” star Gizelle Bryant, Dr. Britten Cole from “Married to Medicine: LA,” Gregory Gourdet from “Top Chef,” “Married to Medicine: Atlanta” stars Dr. Simone Whitmore, Toya Bush-Harris and Dr. Eugene Harris, “RHONY” star Leah McSweeney and “RHOC” star Braunwyn Windham-Burke will all take part in the discussion about race relations.

“This is unlike any other conversation,” former “Housewives” producer Dorothy Toran told Page Six. “You could talk to someone and have a conversation with them for every day for five years and you would never have a race conversation. So I think when you open the door to a race conversation you will be surprised at what everyone says.”

Fellow producer Leslie D. Farrell added that viewers will relate to the conversation.

“What’s fascinating and surprising is to hear — and we always think this — when someone is either well off or they’re on television or whatever, well [race-related incidents] don’t really happen to them,” she explained. “We get it that it happens to us, the normal people, the ones behind the scenes, right? So I knew my experiences and Dorothy has hers, but to hear some of their experiences, it’s like, ‘I’ve experienced that!'”

Toran and Farrell said that they chose each Bravolebrity themselves, and that nobody they asked said no to participating.

“Braunwyn, what was surprising to me about her is she was so open,” Farrell said, noting that the mom-of-seven has participated in the Black Lives Matter movement for years. “Or Leah saying, ‘Well we were able to act a certain way because it was the norm and it was just accepted.’ Those are very surprising revelations, I think. And I think a lot of people are going to relate to that. Because they’re not bad people but in a system that is set up to favor one group over another, and if you’re born into the group with favor, how do you see it? It’s just your life.”

Toran added that it was “wonderful” to have Gourdet be a part of the conversation.

“What’s so fantastic about Gregory is he’s speaking from the perspective of a black, gay man which is yet another layer in the race and gender conversation,” she said. “There’s a really cool part in the special while Gregory is talking and there’s protestors actually outside of his home in Oregon protesting!”

Farrell also said that Cole’s stories were also shocking to her, as “Dr. Britten is an African American woman who does not look African American and the stories that she tells about not trying to be, but unwittingly being the fly on the wall … is shocking sometimes.”

The producers noted that the special ends with ways for viewers to get involved in the discussion afterward.