Issa Rae

by Sep 23, 2016Articles

Despite the title HBO would hardly seem in need of saving. It is coming off a recent Emmy’s performance where perennial powerhouse Game of Thrones snagged the most awards ever for a series. It is consistently the most highly nominated network and one can argue the most highly regarded in the era of “Peak TV”. AMC, FX, Netflix, Starz and Showtime all aim to attract the same buzzworthy and high brow elements that HBO seems to create so effortlessly. However, if one looks beyond award shows and buzz winter is truly coming and not just for Westeros. HBO’s seemingly iron grip on TV’s throne is in danger of slipping loose. High profile failures of Vinyl, the 2nd season of True Detective combined with the imminent departure (thank god) of Girls and only two more seasons of Game of Thrones are all cause for concern. Of course, there is new fare on the horizon but none, even the all star/balls out Westworld, cast an eye toward a more grounded future than Issa Rae’s “Insecure” which premieres Oct 9th.

That Hollywood specifically and media in general have had issues with diversity is not a secret.

A recent NYT critics discussion highlights the challenges of finding fully formed characters of color even as we have more content choices than ever. The lack of diversity exist in front of the camera, behind the camera and in the boardrooms and bungalows of private financiers. Over the years HBO has created great work with a wide appeal to diverse audiences. HBO Films has released work such as Bessie, Something the Lord Made, Confirmation, A Lesson Before Dying and many others that rival anything major studios have produced. And of course, no conversation on quality TV would be complete without the inclusion of  The Wire, arguably the greatest television program ever made. In light of that track record and maybe because of it “Insecure” stands out even more. This is the first time HBO has greenlit a show that will embrace an African-American experience that does not come from either a historical or pathological perspective. Simply put, “Insecure” does not tread the familiar ground that viewers have come to expect when the primary characters are people of color.

Issa Rae has never been shy about sharing her singular vision and painting characters across a wide palette. Her award winning Yotube show “The MisAdventures of Awkward Black Girl” was/is a revelation and tapped into a deeply committed and large online audience. This point can’t be emphasized enough. We live in a time when everyone can create content and post it on Youtube which in turn makes that medium a wasteland. It is accessible to everyone and the quality of shows worth watching are testament to the fact. For Issa Rae to have both produced a high quality show and cultivated a sizeable and enduring audience is no small feat. It is that hustle and drive that HBO are investing in, along with a creative talent capable of telling stories that can appeal beyond the usual HBO offerings. Issa Rae is bringing a community of dedicated fans and viewers that is likely being underestimated but they are just as much a part of this story. When “Insecure” has a strong debut and first season and is picked up for it’s inevitable second season that audience will have played a huge part in the success of the show.

HBO rightfully decided to align itself with a creative talent in Issa Rae with a proven track record of success and the ability to create on her own terms. They have also made a bet on culture whether they realize it or not. HBO has centered itself in an ongoing conversation that will ultimately give their programming a sustained and much needed dose of relevance. Audiences are craving for content that reflects their own varied experiences. The recent success of Master of None, Atlanta, and everything Shondaland related prove out the relevance of tapping into multicultural experiences. Multicultural does not merely mean the characters are diverse in skin hue but that they represent a broad range of experiences and subcultures. The African American experience, Latino experience, Asian-American experience and so on and so on are not one size fits all realities and thus deserve to be mined for unique storytelling in the same way white culture is. Until now the opportunity to flesh out those stories and access the audience that craves them was missing from HBO. Finally HBO is making an attempt to pull up a seat at the culture table and by doing so have picked an exceptional player. Get ready for many more seasons of Issa Rae’s “Insecure” and mark the role it will have played in HBO’s future.

RSS The Deep Dive

  • Episode 203: Leadership & Making a Masterpiece w/ Charles Spinosa October 31, 2024
    Philip welcome Charles Spinosa, author Leadership As Masterpiece Creation to The Deep Dive. In their conversation, they discuss what it means to be a leader, how we organize ourselves and what it looks like when masterpiece language and thinking applies itself to our work. The Drop – The segment of the show where Philip and […]
  • Episode 202: Solving the Climate Crisis w/ John Berger October 24, 2024
    In this episode of The Deep Dive, Philip welcomes John Berger, the author of Solving the Climate Crisis. In this conversation, they examine the growing climate emergency against ongoing global movements to stem the tide and reverse course. The Drop – The segment of the show where Philip and his guest share tasty morsels of […]
  • Episode 201: Wrestling with Gender & Leadership w/ Susan Madsen October 17, 2024
    Philip welcomes researcher and author Susan Madsen to the show. In their conversation, they explore her new book focused on gender and leadership and dissect the consistent myths and impediments to women led leadership. The Drop – The segment of the show where Philip and his guest share tasty morsels of intellectual goodness and creative […]
  • Episode 200: The Resilience Myth w/ Soraya Chemaly September 12, 2024
    On episode 200, Philip welcome author and activist Soraya Chemaly to the show. They discuss her latest book The Resilience Myth and how our belief systems on resilience, grit and strength impact us as individuals and as a society. The Drop – The segment of the show where Philip and his guest share tasty morsels […]
  • Episode 199: Black Scare/Red Scare w/ Dr. Charisse Burden-Stelly August 22, 2024
    Philip welcomes Charisse Burden-Stelly author of Black Scare//Red Scare to the show. In their conversation, they examine the historical connection between the criminalization and fear mongering in radical politics through the lens of anti-communist and anti-Black thinking and policy. The Drop – The segment of the show where Philip and his guest share tasty morsels […]
  • Episode 198: End of the World w/ Jon Mills August 8, 2024
    Philip welcomes Jon Mills the author of End of The World: Civilization and Its Fate. In their conversation, they discuss whether or not extinction is an inevitable event and what are the underlying conditions of a future that seems more precarious. The Drop – The segment of the show where Philip and his guest share […]
  • Episode 197: St. Augustine & the Christian Master w/ Matthew Elia August 1, 2024
    Philip welcomes Matthew Elia to discuss his new book, The Problem of the Christian Master. Taking a turn into the theological we discuss how St. Augustine’s relationship with the master/slave duality has impacted modern Christian thinking. We dissect how this connects to Black Studies, liberation politics and on the other side of the equation Christian […]
  • Episode 196: Out of Time w/ Colin Strong July 11, 2024
    Philip welcomes Colin Strong to the show where they discuss his book Out of Time. In their conversation, they tackle the meaning of time, literally and figuratively, and how it impacts how we know and understand our place in the world. The Drop – The segment of the show where Philip and his guest share […]
  • Episode 195: Puerto Rico: A National History w/ Jorell Melendez-Badillo June 27, 2024
    Philip welcomes Jorell Melendez-Badillo author of Puerto Rico: A National History to the show. In their conversation they discuss the pre-colonial and colonial history of Puerto Rico and what the island nation teaches us about the legacy and current status of American Empire. The Drop – The segment of the show where Philip and his […]
  • Episode 194: Thinking about Entanglement w/ Anthea Lawson June 20, 2024
    Philip welcomes Anthea Lawson, author of The Entangled Activist to The Deep Dive. In their conversation, they discuss the meaning and weight of the word activist and how to confront the limitations, contradictions and setbacks that come from working in activist spaces in order to better create an environment for change. The Drop – The […]