For Issa Rae, being comfortable in her Blackness was a journey. But once she became satisfied in her own skin, she really began to shine. When production started on Insecure, her hit TV show on HBO, Rae brought in a diverse writers' room, complete with white writers, in order to make the show well-rounded. But that doesn't change who she always intended Insecure to be for: Black people.
Issa Rae opened up to Rolling Stone about the creation of her show, which is now on its second season. The comedy quickly became somewhat of a cultural phenomenon. When it airs on Sunday nights, Twitter users go crazy reacting to the antics of the main character, her alter-ego Issa Dee, and her friends. Although the show seems popular across all demographics, Issa Rae is determined to keep its original essence alive.
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"In creating and writing the show, this is not for dudes," she explains. "It's not for white people. It's the show that I imagined for my family and friends. That's what I think of when I'm writing the scenes."
Rae reiterates a sentiment that several Black artists and fans have adopted over the past few years. Solange Knowles released a song in 2016 called "F.U.B.U" meaning "For us, by us." As more and more African-American people begin to take a seat at the table, they're creating content that's personalized to their culture. Others can enjoy it, but this is for us.
"We are telling specific stories with a universal element," Rae believes.
The combination is clearly working. Insecure has already been picked up for a third season. Additionally, Issa Rae has two year First-Look contract with HBO to help bring in more diverse projects. With a secret project in the works and Insecure taking off, Rae should be able to reach these dreams easily.
"I want to be a pop culture staple," she muses. "I want a place in the culture. I want people to reference this show and identify with the characters for years to come."
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