Awkward, But Still Black: Issa Rae Tells Her Story

By Laritza Salazar

Had it not been for Issa Raes prodigious talent for catfishing at the ripe age of 11, its
possible that HBOs new hit series Insecure would not exist. According to the 32-year-
old star of the show, her internet fascination began through an innocent trolling of sorts.

I was a thirsty middle schooler, Rae said. But online I was poppin.

Rae discussed her early experiences with the internet, studying at Stanford University,
and how awkward she was when she met Drake among other things Friday night at
Goldstein Auditorium. The event was hosted by University Union, with the interview led
by E! News correspondent Zuri Hall.

Rae has since turned in her title of catfish and replaced it with: best-selling author,
writer and Golden Globe-nominated actress. For Rae, it was clear from an early age that
she liked to explore her creativity online.

This began with a YouTube mini-series she produced in her time at Stanford University
called Dorm Diaries about the black experience on college campuses, and the eventual
series that gained widespread recognition Awkward Black Girl.
I remember Facebook and YouTube came out my sophomore year, and during my
senior year, I created Dorm Diaries about what it was like to be black at Stanford. The
first video got around 150,000 views before I made it private, but there were students
from all over the country watching and engaging, Rae said.

After graduation, Rae began to create more content focused on the black woman
experience in America. Growing up in Maryland and California exposed Rae to both
predominantly white and black communities, yet she stated that both black and white
peers alike revoked her black card. So she challenged this with her work.

Im black just by being black, Rae said.

With her identity being questioned and constantly examined, Rae channeled the
awkward moments of her life through the creation of Awkward Black Girl.

According to Rae, the series began with many limitations due to the lack of budget and
of course, the magic of HBO. However, despite these minor setbacks, the series
resonated with thousands of people. So much so, that the second season of the show was
produced by artist Pharrell Williams, and later caught the attention of acclaimed TV
producer and creator Shonda Rhimes.

However, Raes trajectory toward success did not come easily. She discussed the
rejections she received from production companies when she sent out her script, the
possible series Rhimes attempted to create with her which got rejected by the network,
and overall the struggle of being a broke artist. Yet Rae only allowed these setbacks to
fuel her comeback.

Sometimes you have to leave a project for some time and revisit it later. Its not giving
up or abandoning work. When I pitched the first show with Shonda, I didnt yet
know what it was that I wanted to create, Rae said.
Just two months after her first pitch to a network fell through, Rae received a call from
HBO, and thus came Insecure.
Rae gave the audience and creators alike, advice on how to succeed in the industry,
stressing that in a vacuum full of competing voices, its important to understand how
ones own story is unique to them. She later related this to her show Insecure, stating
that it does not speak for all black women, it depicts the experience of one black women,
but it still resonates with a collective experience.
Rae is currently working on the second season of Insecure set for release on July 23, as
well as co-starring in the upcoming drama-comedy Empress of Serenity with comedian
Bill Hader.