Future Black History Month: Issa Rae Is 'Awkward,' 'Insecure' & Unstoppable

FUSE TV - Future Black History Month: Issa Rae Is 'Awkward,' 'Insecure' & Unstoppable

Fuse is once again celebrating an extended Black History Month by looking at a variety of rising forces who are creating Future Black History before our eyes. Today we're talking about Issa Rae, who in 2016 turned years of multiplatform success into a hit HBO comedy, Insecure, which features her as co-creator, executive producer, star and writer. It took its place on Fuse's Best New TV Series of 2016 list with ease.

Jo-Issa Rae Diop, 32, was born in L.A. to a teacher mom from Louisiana and a Sengalese doctor dad; one chapter in her memoir, the 2015 New York Times best-seller The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, is called "Halfrican." The book shares a title with the beloved, outrageous web series Rae launched in 2011. From that point on, Rae ceaselessly demonstrated how to be an internet content innovator and mogul, bending Kickstarter, celebrity collaborations (Pharrell, Shonda Rhimes), podcasts and social media all in service of her far-reaching mission. 

Rae launched Color Creative TV in 2014 to "increase opportunities for women and minority TV writers to showcase and sell their work, both inside and outside the existing studio system." At the time, she told Ebony about the need to subvert Hollywood's problematic precedents:

“A lot of these diversity initiatives staff writers to a television show and pay them separately through a diversity salary. Everyone knows they’re the affirmative action diversity hire, which is kind of embarrassing. They’re not given the respect that other staffers get. ... I predict that Netflix absorbs people of color. I can also see a solid BET of the future online, where the content of people of color is its own network.”

Issa Rae Talks 'Raedio' and Prioritizing Therapy (Extended Cut)

12m

Issa Rae Talks 'Raedio' and Prioritizing Therapy (Extended Cut)

The Future is Bright

20m

The Future is Bright

Rae in LA

20m

Rae in LA

12 Months

1h 2m

12 Months

Create The Future

20m

Create The Future

Black Thought

20m

Black Thought

Shades of Black

Shades of Black

Feat. Courtney Black

22m

Feat. Courtney Black

Black, Brown and Red

24m

Black, Brown and Red

Trailblazers in Sports History: Nancy Leiberman

59s

Trailblazers in Sports History: Nancy Leiberman

Trailblazers in Sports History: Wilma Rudolph

59s

Trailblazers in Sports History: Wilma Rudolph

That Back To The Future Ish

20m

That Back To The Future Ish

Trailblazers in Sports History: Claressa Shields -a

59s

Trailblazers in Sports History: Claressa Shields -a

History of the Reebok Pump Part 1

5m

History of the Reebok Pump Part 1

King Keraun Goes "Back to the Future"

6m

King Keraun Goes "Back to the Future"

Inside Reebok and Future's Fury Pop-Up Shop

5m

Inside Reebok and Future's Fury Pop-Up Shop

Euphoria Is

1m

Euphoria Is

Who is Hypeman?

8m

Who is Hypeman?

The Winner Is…

44m

The Winner Is…

G Is Shot

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G Is Shot

Fare is Fair

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Fare is Fair

More is More

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More is More

Healthfulness is Sexiness

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Healthfulness is Sexiness

Jasmine Is a Star

57m

Jasmine Is a Star

The Gig Is Up

1h 25m

The Gig Is Up

Prince: My Name Is

41m

Prince: My Name Is

Nas: Time Is Illmatic

1h 14m

Nas: Time Is Illmatic

My Name is Pedro

1h 35m

My Name is Pedro

Is Everyone on Drugs?

20m

Is Everyone on Drugs?

This Is A Sex Toy

21m

This Is A Sex Toy

The Queen Diva Is Back

41m

The Queen Diva Is Back

This Is Not Financial Advice

1h 29m

This Is Not Financial Advice

Is Freedia Stretching Herself too Thin?

3m

Is Freedia Stretching Herself too Thin?

Vogue Williams Investigates: Is Monogamy Dead?

50m

Vogue Williams Investigates: Is Monogamy Dead?

Wearing Sleeveless Shirts Is A CRIME!

4m

Wearing Sleeveless Shirts Is A CRIME!

The Best Is Yet To Come

20m

The Best Is Yet To Come

Why Is He Blowing Me Kisses?

21m

Why Is He Blowing Me Kisses?

All the Focus is on the Diamonds

21m

All the Focus is on the Diamonds

Where Is It Illegal To Eat Frogs?!

14m

Where Is It Illegal To Eat Frogs?!

Inside the MMA: A Rivalry is Born

41m

Inside the MMA: A Rivalry is Born

This Is How A DCI Marimbist Rolls

1m

This Is How A DCI Marimbist Rolls

Is There Cultural Appropriation In Plastic Surgery?

17m

Is There Cultural Appropriation In Plastic Surgery?

Is Nya A Baller On The Low?

51s

Is Nya A Baller On The Low?

LGBTQIA Community, What Is The New Norm?

6m

LGBTQIA Community, What Is The New Norm?

Is It Illegal To Trip A Horse Up?

7m

Is It Illegal To Trip A Horse Up?

Where Is It ILLEGAL to Send Unwanted Pizzas?

6m

Where Is It ILLEGAL to Send Unwanted Pizzas?

Dublab Is Internet Radio Like You've Never Heard Before

1m

Dublab Is Internet Radio Like You've Never Heard Before

Clash of The Corps Is Putting DCI Stereotypes To Rest

1m

Clash of The Corps Is Putting DCI Stereotypes To Rest

Latto Takes A Lie Detector Test: Is She Into Threesomes?

10m

Latto Takes A Lie Detector Test: Is She Into Threesomes?

Bambiana’s Mom Is Not A Fan of Twerking or Sexy Photos

41s

Bambiana’s Mom Is Not A Fan of Twerking or Sexy Photos

Todrick Hall Reveals First Big Paycheck and Why Unfollowing Beyonce is Blasphemous

3m

Todrick Hall Reveals First Big Paycheck and Why Unfollowing Beyonce is Blasphemous

Is Tossing Your Man's Salad The Way To His Heart: Dear Bambiana

2m

Is Tossing Your Man's Salad The Way To His Heart: Dear Bambiana

How Much Is too Much When It Comes to Sex with Weezy

6m

How Much Is too Much When It Comes to Sex with Weezy

DOMINO: Battle of the Bones

1h 49m

DOMINO: Battle of the Bones

CNCO Takes A Lie Detector Test

4m

CNCO Takes A Lie Detector Test

Silly String Is Illegal in What US City!? Comedians React to Strange Laws

6m

Silly String Is Illegal in What US City!? Comedians React to Strange Laws

Smokepurpp & His Manager Take A Lie Detector Test: Is He Done with Lean

4m

Smokepurpp & His Manager Take A Lie Detector Test: Is He Done with Lean

Salem Ilese Takes A Lie Detector Test: Why Is She Really "Mad At Disney"?

5m

Salem Ilese Takes A Lie Detector Test: Why Is She Really "Mad At Disney"?

Luh Kel & His Mom Take A Lie Detector Test: Is He Dating Multiple Women?

5m

Luh Kel & His Mom Take A Lie Detector Test: Is He Dating Multiple Women?

Fuse+ is the Home for Big Freedia Means Business, Sex Sells, Made From Scratch & More!

30s

Fuse+ is the Home for Big Freedia Means Business, Sex Sells, Made From Scratch & More!

Quando Rondo Takes A Lie Detector Test: Which is Better "Life B4 Fame" or "QPac"?

8m

Quando Rondo Takes A Lie Detector Test: Which is Better "Life B4 Fame" or "QPac"?

Victoria Monét & Her Manager Take A Lie Detector Test: Is She Nervous About Releasing Jaguar?

7m

Victoria Monét & Her Manager Take A Lie Detector Test: Is She Nervous About Releasing Jaguar?

Key Glock Takes A Lie Detector Test: Is He A Better Rapper Than Young Dolph

5m

Key Glock Takes A Lie Detector Test: Is He A Better Rapper Than Young Dolph

La Goony Chonga & Her DJ Take A Lie Detector Test: Is She An Ex-Cam Girl?

7m

La Goony Chonga & Her DJ Take A Lie Detector Test: Is She An Ex-Cam Girl?

She Did That

1h 7m

She Did That

What's It Gonna Be, Boys?

21m

What's It Gonna Be, Boys?

Nemiah Valley

21m

Nemiah Valley

Embarassing Sex Stories

1h 3m

Embarassing Sex Stories

Sex & Relationships

21m

Sex & Relationships

A Sexplanation

1h 16m

A Sexplanation

Juneteenth Honors Fest 2024

1h 13m

Juneteenth Honors Fest 2024

Latino Studies

22m

Latino Studies

Shrug–Eterian

20m

Shrug–Eterian

The Revolution Generation

1h 17m

The Revolution Generation

Juneteenth Honors 2023

1h 37m

Juneteenth Honors 2023

The Dirtiest Song Ever Recorded

21m

The Dirtiest Song Ever Recorded

2040

1h 24m

2040

Find Your Inspiration

20m

Find Your Inspiration

Guapdad4000

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Guapdad4000

Estevan Oriol

20m

Estevan Oriol

Girl Down

41m

Girl Down

T-Pain's School of Business: Artiphon- The All In One Musical Device | Season 1 Look Back |

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T-Pain's School of Business: Artiphon- The All In One Musical Device | Season 1 Look Back |

Angel City FC

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Angel City FC

Soul Food Pop-Up

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Soul Food Pop-Up

Indigiqueer

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Indigiqueer

The FP

1h 20m

The FP

BYB's London Debut: Driver vs. Dreiling

45m

BYB's London Debut: Driver vs. Dreiling

White Elephant

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White Elephant

Pop Your Podcast

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Pop Your Podcast

The 212

The 212

Race & Colorism

21m

Race & Colorism

Building Community

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Building Community

Kamala Harris: Chase the Dream

40m

Kamala Harris: Chase the Dream

King Keraun Becomes a Cowboy

3m

King Keraun Becomes a Cowboy

Toe to Toe

1h 43m

Toe to Toe

King Keraun Tries Aerial Fitness

3m

King Keraun Tries Aerial Fitness

Trinidad James & Guapdad 4000 Take A Lie Detector Test: Who Stalks Their Exs Page?

7m

Trinidad James & Guapdad 4000 Take A Lie Detector Test: Who Stalks Their Exs Page?

Pole Dancer Diet

44m

Pole Dancer Diet

Hank3's Vinyl Collection

13m

Hank3's Vinyl Collection

Blac Chyna, Diggy Simmons, DaniLeigh

24m

Blac Chyna, Diggy Simmons, DaniLeigh

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