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)

Rae in LA

20m

Rae in LA

Gina Rodriguez's Awkward Audition: Hollywood Puppet Shitshow

3m

Gina Rodriguez's Awkward Audition: Hollywood Puppet Shitshow

Create The Future

20m

Create The Future

Black Thought

20m

Black Thought

Feat. Courtney Black

22m

Feat. Courtney Black

Shades of Black

Shades of Black

Black, Brown and Red

24m

Black, Brown and Red

That Back To The Future Ish

20m

That Back To The Future Ish

King Keraun Goes "Back to the Future"

6m

King Keraun Goes "Back to the Future"

History of the Reebok Pump Part 1

5m

History of the Reebok Pump Part 1

Inside Reebok and Future's Fury Pop-Up Shop

5m

Inside Reebok and Future's Fury Pop-Up Shop

Fare is Fair

21m

Fare is Fair

G Is Shot

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G Is Shot

The Winner Is…

44m

The Winner Is…

Who is Hypeman?

8m

Who is Hypeman?

Fluffy's Hot Spots Ep. 4: Find History and 'Magic' in Atlanta

1m

Fluffy's Hot Spots Ep. 4: Find History and 'Magic' in Atlanta

'Transcendent' First Look: An Emotional Look to the Past & Toward the Future

21s

'Transcendent' First Look: An Emotional Look to the Past & Toward the Future

My Name is Pedro

1h 35m

My Name is Pedro

Prince: My Name Is

41m

Prince: My Name Is

Is Everyone on Drugs?

20m

Is Everyone on Drugs?

The Gig Is Up

1h 25m

The Gig Is Up

The Queen Diva Is Back

41m

The Queen Diva Is Back

My Name is Pedro - Trailer

1m

My Name is Pedro - Trailer

This Is A Sex Toy

21m

This Is A Sex Toy

Is Freedia Stretching Herself too Thin?

3m

Is Freedia Stretching Herself too Thin?

Wearing Sleeveless Shirts Is A CRIME!

4m

Wearing Sleeveless Shirts Is A CRIME!

Is Everything Love At The Carters?

39s

Is Everything Love At The Carters?

Why Is He Blowing Me Kisses?

21m

Why Is He Blowing Me Kisses?

Joe Jonas' Dream Girl Is A Nightmare

10m

Joe Jonas' Dream Girl Is A Nightmare

This Is How A DCI Marimbist Rolls

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This Is How A DCI Marimbist Rolls

Is Nya A Baller On The Low?

51s

Is Nya A Baller On The Low?

All the Focus is on the Diamonds

21m

All the Focus is on the Diamonds

Is There Cultural Appropriation In Plastic Surgery?

17m

Is There Cultural Appropriation In Plastic Surgery?

Where Is It Illegal To Eat Frogs?!

14m

Where Is It Illegal To Eat Frogs?!

Waka Flocka Flame Is Now A Magician

2m

Waka Flocka Flame Is Now A Magician

LGBTQIA Community, What Is The New Norm?

6m

LGBTQIA Community, What Is The New Norm?

Where Is It ILLEGAL to Send Unwanted Pizzas?

6m

Where Is It ILLEGAL to Send Unwanted Pizzas?

Is It Illegal To Trip A Horse Up?

7m

Is It Illegal To Trip A Horse Up?

Clash of The Corps Is Putting DCI Stereotypes To Rest

1m

Clash of The Corps Is Putting DCI Stereotypes To Rest

Dublab Is Internet Radio Like You've Never Heard Before

1m

Dublab Is Internet Radio Like You've Never Heard Before

DOMINO: Battle of the Bones

1h 49m

DOMINO: Battle of the Bones

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

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

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

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

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!

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

Embarrassing Sex Stories - Trailer

1m

Embarrassing Sex Stories - Trailer

Embarassing Sex Stories

1h 3m

Embarassing Sex Stories

Sex & Relationships

21m

Sex & Relationships

A Sexplanation - Trailer

1m

A Sexplanation - Trailer

A Sexplanation

1h 16m

A Sexplanation

Latino Studies

22m

Latino Studies

Shrug–Eterian

20m

Shrug–Eterian

The Revolution Generation - Trailer

2m

The Revolution Generation - Trailer

The Revolution Generation

1h 17m

The Revolution Generation

The Dirtiest Song Ever Recorded

21m

The Dirtiest Song Ever Recorded

Find Your Inspiration

20m

Find Your Inspiration

2040

1h 24m

2040

Guapdad4000

20m

Guapdad4000

Juneteenth Honors 2023

1h 37m

Juneteenth Honors 2023

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 |

1m

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

Blueprint - Trailer

1m

Blueprint - Trailer

Soul Food Pop-Up

20m

Soul Food Pop-Up

The FP

1h 20m

The FP

The 212

The 212

The 212 - Trailer

59s

The 212 - Trailer

White Elephant - Trailer

1m

White Elephant - Trailer

White Elephant

53m

White Elephant

T-Pain's School of Business - Sizzle

59s

T-Pain's School of Business - Sizzle

Hands Up - Trailer

1m

Hands Up - Trailer

Toe to Toe

1h 43m

Toe to Toe

King Keraun Becomes a Cowboy

3m

King Keraun Becomes a Cowboy

Toe to Toe - Trailer

2m

Toe to Toe - Trailer

King Keraun Tries Aerial Fitness

3m

King Keraun Tries Aerial Fitness

Kamala Harris: Chase the Dream

40m

Kamala Harris: Chase the Dream

Race & Colorism

21m

Race & Colorism

Building Community

20m

Building Community

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

Prism

22m

Prism

The Out100 TV Special

47m

The Out100 TV Special

Don't Be Nice

1h 34m

Don't Be Nice

T-Pain’s School of Business: Teaser

30s

T-Pain’s School of Business: Teaser

Sports

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Sports

Fluffy Devours Fresh Baked Kurdish Carbs in Nashville

2m

Fluffy Devours Fresh Baked Kurdish Carbs in Nashville

Bebe Rexha

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Bebe Rexha

Lena Waithe On Making What She Wants To See (Extended Cut)

17m

Lena Waithe On Making What She Wants To See (Extended Cut)

DeRay Mckesson Addresses Shaun King Controversy (Extended Cut)

13m

DeRay Mckesson Addresses Shaun King Controversy (Extended Cut)

Why This Show Exists?

8m

Why This Show Exists?

Stereotypes: Harmful or Humorous?

23m

Stereotypes: Harmful or Humorous?

Chika On Building Community Through Her Music (Extended)

14m

Chika On Building Community Through Her Music (Extended)

Where The Hell Do We Go From Here With Amara La Negra

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Where The Hell Do We Go From Here With Amara La Negra

Don't Be Nice - Trailer

1m

Don't Be Nice - Trailer