All those years ago when I was glued to my laptop inhaling every episode of Issa Rae’s The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl web series, I don’t think I could have imagined that over a decade later, I would be watching her on stage, flanked by Denzel Washington and Nicole and Jeff Friday, the co-founders of the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), acting as the creative director of the festival and casually being one of the biggest stars in the world. It’s not that I didn’t believe she could do it — I bet big on the Issa Rae stock early — it’s that her career trajectory has been singular and spectacular to watch. Rae has changed the face of TV with Insecure and aside from now being peers with thee Denzel Washington, she’s also using her power in Hollywood to create opportunities for other Black creatives, and make sure that Black TV shows and films get the love — and longevity — they deserve.
