In a world the place Hollywood likes to field individuals in, Issa Rae constructed her empire by doing the precise reverse—staying 100% true to herself. From a scrappy YouTube collection to changing into one of many largest names in leisure, she’s proof that preserving it actual pays off.
Earlier than the celebrity, Issa Rae was simply one other inventive making an attempt to inform her story. In 2011, she dropped The Misadventures of Awkward Black Lady on YouTube, a hilarious and super-relatable internet collection a few quirky Black lady navigating life’s awkward moments. On the time, Hollywood wasn’t actually checking for Black girls like her who have been awkward, introverted, and never becoming into the standard “sturdy Black lady” or “sassy finest pal” stereotypes.
However Issa didn’t water herself down to slot in. As an alternative of ready for Hollywood’s approval, she took issues into her personal arms. When funding obtained tight, she launched a Kickstarter marketing campaign—and the individuals confirmed up, donating over $50,000 to maintain the present going. That’s when it turned clear: individuals needed to see actual, genuine Black tales, and Issa was about to present them precisely that.
After Awkward Black Lady blew up, Issa Rae caught the eye of HBO, resulting in her hit present Insecure, which premiered in 2016. From day one, Insecure was unapologetically Black. It wasn’t made to clarify our tradition to outsiders, it was made for us, by us. From the music to the jokes to the style, each element felt genuine.
Hollywood has a behavior of constructing Black creators change issues as much as be extra “marketable,” however Issa wasn’t having it. She stayed in charge of her imaginative and prescient, ensuring Insecure mirrored the actual Black expertise: messy, humorous, lovely, and sophisticated.
Lots of people get well-known and neglect the place they got here from, however not Issa. As an alternative of simply specializing in her personal success, she made certain to uplift others. Behind the scenes of Insecure, she employed Black writers, administrators, and crew members, giving individuals alternatives in an business that usually shuts them out.
And he or she didn’t cease there. She launched Hoorae, her personal media firm, to create much more house for Black creatives. Then she began Raedio, a music label that helps unsigned artists get their music in TV and movie. She even invested in Black-owned companies in South L.A. It’s one factor to make it—however Issa is ensuring all people eats.
Issa Rae didn’t need to faux it to make it. She confirmed up as her full, awkward, hilarious, and sensible self and Hollywood had no alternative however to take discover. By staying true to her imaginative and prescient, she didn’t simply construct a profession; she modified the sport for Black creatives in every single place.