As we celebrate Black History Month, Cheddar is highlighting prominent Black Americans who are carving their own historic paths and trailblazing in their industries. While Black History Month has become synonymous with reflecting on past achievements of Black Americans, it is important that we acknowledge today's historic feats as they happen.
"I'm rooting for everybody Black," Issa Rae told Variety a reporter during her 2017 Emmys red carpet interview. And while the remark might have been in jest, the desire to see Black people win, especially in the entertainment industry, appears to be very real for her in practice as a producer, actor, director, and screenwriter.
Rae's HBO series "Insecure" was an instant hit following its premiere on HBO's GO and NOW streaming platforms in September 2016. The following month, the series move to the cable network to broadcast weekly. It was a historic moment for Rae as she became the first Black woman to create and star in her own scripted premium cable show.
"Isn't it sad that it's revolutionary? We don't get to do that. We don't get to just have a show about regular Black people being basic," she told NPR.
According to Rae, her goal in telling the Insecure story was to provide a more complete spectrum of the Black experience on television. Since Black people are not monolithic, she noted how important it was that they don't always have to be portrayed as "cool or overly dramatic."
"For so long, entertainment executives have said the reason they don't cast people of color is that they're not relatable onscreen. It's such a segregationist mentality, and I always knew that it was false," Rae wrote in a TIME op-ed.
With the success of her series, Rae has been able to spin off multiple businesses, all while helping those from her community get in positions to excel in various fields. Most notably, Hoorae Media, an umbrella of businesses including Raedio, a music label established through Atlantic Records, and ColorCreative, a management division, have created a number of opportunities for young, unestablished professionals looking to make it to the next level of their careers.
In an interview with Blavity, Rae said people have a responsibility to not be selfish with opportunities and avoid being the proverbial crabs in a barrel.
"I've never been shy about [saying], 'Girl did you see this opportunity,' or 'Hey this is happening here, we should take advantage it,' because again, if it's meant for me and it's mine, then it's mine, and if it's meant for you, it's yours. When one person wins, we do kind of all win," she said.
And just before the Super Bowl took place in Inglewood, California, on Sunday, Rae had another historic moment when she was presented with the key to the city, becoming the first person to ever be honored with the distinction. For Rae, as well as Insecure fans, it was a full-circle moment as Inglewood played a major role in the TV series practically as a character.
"I'm a little emotional. I'm trying to be a thug right now," she said in her acceptance speech. "The mayor really kind of flabbergasted me in that this is the first key in 114 years, so that's a huge honor. I just want to thank you all so much for your support. Thank you to the mayor, thank you to the city of Inglewood for making it so easy for us to film here, for helping us showcase this city that I love so much."
