When Amanda Seales began brainstorming concepts for the debut of her new comedy special at the esteemed Kennedy Center, she says it was a whisper from the ancestors that gave her the brilliant stroke of genius to turn it into a documentary. 

Produced by her Smart, Funny & Black Productions, In Amanda We Trust: An Unapologetically Political Comedy Doc is indeed a smart, self-funded documentary combining her trademark razor-sharp standup comedy along with a series of political interviews and sista-on-the-street trivia. The documentary has been airing on her Patreon platform since its debut on August 18.

Long known for playing fan favorite Tiffany Dubois on HBO’s Emmy-nominated “Insecure” and as a co-host of the talk show “The Real”, host of NBC's “Bring the Funny,” and host of the BET Awards in 2020, her no-filter approach has built a loyal following with over two million followers on Instagram. Her hugely popular book of essays and advice, “Small Doses: Potent Truths for Everyday Use,” and weekly podcast show (shot in the pink palace for her YouTube show of the same name with over 100,000 subscribers) keep fans laughing and coming back for more. In the fearless star’s latest project, she wants to get serious as she explores civic and social issues. But don’t worry, there will still be plenty of laughs.

Fresh, provocative, and, of course, funny, cameras followed Seales around Washington, D.C., as she got a head-to-toe makeover and contemplated running for political office. Her sit-down with Representative Jamaal Bowman (D-NY 16th District) and Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN 5th District) on Capitol Hill triggers a sense of high school civics with hip hop knowledge as they all discuss what it really takes to do the people’s business. This included crafting bills to benefit everyday Americans and a little Wu-Tang Clan trivia.

“What surprised me most was how much clearer Jamal Bowman and Ilan Omar were in their goals as public servants versus a lot of their peers,” Seales told BET.com.

When asked what type of legislation she’d like to see passed if she were ever elected to office, Seales’ laser focused on the freedom of our community. “We need to have a specific piece of legislation in support of Black elevation,” she said. She also wants to end qualified immunity, which shields police officers from civil liability after killing unarmed Black people. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA 7th district), along with former Representative Justin Amash (D-MI 3rd district), introduced legislation in 2020 stating the qualified immunity doctrine is not grounds for defense for officers that violate the law. Unfortunately, it has yet to pass.

Hitting the streets outside the Capitol, Seales cut a striking figure in her power pink pantsuit and Afro blowout as she hilariously quizzed tourists and locals alike on how much they knew about government operations, the role of elected officials and the history of the legendary Destiny’s Child. Seales herself admits that she’s been working to expand her own knowledge and understanding by studying our history from Emancipation through the Civil Rights movement. She was stunned to realize the many holes in her own scholarship, despite earning a prestigious master’s degree in African American studies from Columbia University.

The doc has received rave reviews so fans can expect that the firebrand, who kept the audience in stitches with her 2019 HBO special “I Be Knowin,’” will continue to mix her socially conscious comedy with hot-button political discourse, hoping to travel to schools and universities to inspire young people to get more involved in their government. The mission is for the next generation to become the change they want to see in the world. “I set out to do a comedy special but the ancestors pushed me in another direction.”

And aren’t we glad that they did.

Watch In Amanda We Trust, out now on Patreon.