Issa Rae recently expressed to The Wrap that Hollywood is currently facing an “identity crisis,” marked by a decline in representation both behind the scenes and on screen.
Rae explained that she initiated “Awkward Black Girl” due to a lack of representation in the industry, seeing it as an opportunity to introduce a new archetype. Despite significant progress, she feels representation is again limited, requiring renewed efforts to assert their narratives. “We’re back where we started, in a way, but wiser,” she observed.
Rae noted feedback from some executives of color, who have told her they “can’t cosign you,” which she interprets as an indication of the industry’s hesitance to promote diverse storytellers amid recent rollbacks on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies.
“I’m seeing it. Just blatantly. People aren’t investing like they were before,” Rae stated, adding that the term “[DEI] has changed meanings and has become a bad word.”
Rae emphasized that her commitment to fostering inclusivity in Hollywood remains unchanged, but acknowledged that she must be more inventive in how she presents her projects.
“You have to be smarter about how you package and market [projects],” Rae explained. “You tell them, ‘It’s not a show about a Black woman, it’s a show about class.’ As icky as that might feel, it gets the show sold.”
Rae recalled an instance where she was approached for a television adaptation of her YouTube series “Awkward Black Girl,” but it was proposed as a complete reimagining with a new cast.
Rae humorously remarked, “They talked about recasting everyone, including me, with celebrities, so that was an easy no thank you.”
