Issa Rae

Issa Rae is an American actress, writer, and producer who rose to prominence with Awkward Black Girl and Insecure. Discover her journey, creative philosophy, impact, and inspiring quotes.

Introduction

Issa Rae (born Jo-Issa Rae Diop, January 12, 1985) is a multi-talented American actress, writer, producer, and media entrepreneur. Awkward Black Girl, and later co-created, co-wrote, and starred in the acclaimed HBO series Insecure (2016–2021). Over the years, she’s expanded into film, publishing, and producing, while using her voice to explore representation, identity, and the Black female experience in America.

Today, Rae is regarded not just as a performer but as a cultural influencer—someone who has helped shift what stories get told and who gets to tell them.

Early Life and Family

Issa Rae was born on January 12, 1985, in Los Angeles, California.

Rae grew up partially in Washington, D.C. / Potomac, Maryland, where she experienced environments that she describes as “not considered ‘black,’” including swim teams and Passover dinners with Jewish friends.

Her background—forcing her between cultural spaces—has shaped much of her creative outlook: negotiating identity, belonging, expectations, and creativity.

Education & Formative Years

In 2007, Issa Rae graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Arts in African and African American Studies. Dorm Diaries. Awkward Black Girl.

After college, Rae was awarded a theater fellowship at The Public Theater in New York City. Awkward Black Girl gained momentum.

Her early experimental work, especially in digital media, gave her both creative freedom and a platform outside traditional gatekeepers.

Career & Achievements

Awkward Black Girl & Breakout as a Web Creator

Issa Rae’s first major breakthrough came via her web series Awkward Black Girl (2011–2013), which she produced and starred in.

Rae and Oliver funded part of the production via a Kickstarter campaign. Awkward Black Girl helped Rae establish credibility and gain the attention of industry insiders.

In 2015, she published her memoir The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, which became a New York Times bestseller. The book is a collection of personal essays exploring identity, awkwardness, race, and being a creative in spaces that aren’t always welcoming.

Insecure & Mainstream Success

Rae’s next major leap was Insecure, the HBO series she co-created, co-wrote, and starred in (as Issa Dee). Insecure was praised for its nuanced portrayal of Black women’s friendships, love, careers, and social life in Los Angeles.

During its run, Rae garnered multiple Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for her work as actor and producer. Insecure also pushed for more diverse voices behind the camera and foregrounded stories not often seen in prestige television.

Film & Voice Work

Issa Rae has expanded into film roles and voice work in recent years. Some highlights:

• The Hate U Give (2018) — she appeared in a supporting role.

• Little (2019) — comedic fantasy film.

• The Photograph (2020) — she starred and also served as producer.

• The Lovebirds (2020) — romantic comedy.

• Vengeance (2022), Barbie (2023), American Fiction (2023) — roles in more high-profile films.

• Voice: She voiced Jess Drew / Spider-Woman in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023).

She also launched her production company Hoorae Media in 2020 to develop content across platforms.

In 2025, she made another strategic move by joining the ownership group of the Major League Soccer expansion club San Diego FC.

Awards, Recognition & Influence

• Rae has been included in Time 100 (2018, 2022).

• She received a Peabody Trailblazer Award and a Producers Guild of America Visionary Award.

• Insecure elevated her as a prominent voice for Black female representation in television and media, influencing younger creators to demand creative agency behind the scenes as well as on camera.

Her influence extends beyond page and screen: she speaks on representation, equity, creativity, and the importance of changing systems so that diverse stories can flourish.

Personality, Philosophy & Approach

Issa Rae is candid, introspective, and committed to authenticity. In interviews, she has discussed how awkwardness and vulnerability are not defects but sources of connection. She often frames creativity as not about perfection but about expression, experimentation, and persistence.

She has spoken about “writing what you know” as a grounding principle. For example:

“Even if you're a horrible writer, your own knowledge and experience is unrivaled. … The way you see things is pretty unique.”

She also reflects on the necessity of representation, saying:

“As long as the people who are in charge aren’t us, things will never change.”

Her work often pushes back on limited stereotypes of Black women—rejecting monolithic roles and insisting on layered humanity.

Rae also embraces entrepreneurship and control: rather than waiting for opportunities, she creates them. Her founding of Hoorae Media and her push into ownership and production show her vision of creative independence.

Famous Quotes by Issa Rae

Here are a few notable quotes that capture her voice, beliefs, and perspective:

• “As long as the people who are in charge aren’t us, things will never change.”

• “Even if you're a horrible writer, your own knowledge and experience is unrivaled. … The way you see things is pretty unique.”

• “I personally don't feel any pressure to make jokes about multiple baby-fathers and stereotypical black jokes, because one, that's just not my life, and two, I wouldn't even sound right talking about those things.”

• “Confidence comes from creating something and knowing what…”

These lines show her conviction in authentic storytelling, her rejection of constraints, and her belief in self-knowledge.

Lessons & Takeaways

1. Create your own entry point. Rae started with YouTube and small projects when she couldn’t find her place in traditional media—and built upward.

2. Voice matters. Her perspective, grounded in lived complexity, became distinct precisely because she refused to conform to neat labels.

3. Take control of production. Founding a media company gave her agency to shape which stories get told and how.

4. Embrace vulnerability. Much of her appeal comes from allowing flaws, uncertainty, awkwardness—rather than hiding them.

5. Representation is structural, not cosmetic. Rae invests not just in characters but in the infrastructure around storytelling (producers, creators, ownership).

Conclusion

Issa Rae’s journey—from internet content creator to respected Hollywood figure—epitomizes how modern creators can leverage multiple platforms, voice, and entrepreneurial drive to shift cultural narratives. Her work is about more than entertainment: it’s about expanding what is visible, possible, and how power in storytelling is distributed.