Content mastermind Issa Rae has received a pilot order from HBO for a series called Insecure. Insecure will chronicle and explore the intricacies and irony of the modern yet un-glorified African American woman’s life. The series is co-created and co-written by the new late night talk show host Larry Wilmore. Insecure will be much like her YouTube series Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl which gained over 2 million views and nearly 200,000 subscribers. I am proud to say that I was one of them.
I can actually remember exactly where I was when I saw the web series for the first time. I laughed hysterically, almost to the point of tears, because I could have sworn that Issa Rae took my life and some of my quirks and put in on camera for the world to see. It was witty, gutsy, untraditional and real. It explored the stereotypes and cultural divides we are faced with and the ones create ourselves. It was genius.
Not many people know that the award winning Mis-Adventures of an Awkward Black Girl, affectionately known as ABG was an idea that Issa Rae sat on for two years. When she launched her first webisode in 2011 it went viral, literally. Issa Rae has since been featured on CNN, Forbes, Glamour, Rolling Stone and People Magazine to name a few. What I love about Rae is that she took her uniqueness, her quirks, her misadventures packaged them with her humor and talent and shared it with the world. She discovered that there were millions who would watch and relate. It seemed like the world was waiting on ABG to exist. Issa Rae is a great example of what happens when you face your fears, remove your excuses and do that very thing you were destined to. She started where she was and with what she had. What if she didn’t? Issa Rae would be hearing about someone who created a web series called Quirky Black Girl getting the green light from HBO.
I’m so glad she gave her dreams a chance. Dreaming is a beautiful aspect of life. However, most dreamers are stuck there. There comes a time when you have to get up and act. You may have questions and you may be afraid but do it afraid. Take it one step at a time and you too can see your dreams become your reality.
Congrats Issa Rae! We will be supporting this series and your book release on February 10th.