Issa Rae Reflects on How DEI Has Lost Its Impact in Hollywood: “We’ve Come Full Circle”
A decade after the debut of her influential HBO series Insecure, Issa Rae has expressed concern over a noticeable decline in diversity within the entertainment industry.
The three-time Golden Globe nominee addressed the issue during a recent panel discussion, stating, “Hollywood is in an identity crisis right now.” She attributed this to a shift towards social media influencers, which she believes detracts from meaningful storytelling, especially for women of color.
Rae explained her motivation for creating Awkward Black Girl, saying, “I started it because there was a dearth of representation in the industry. It felt like this was my opportunity to put an archetype into the space that didn’t exist at the time.” She emphasized that despite past advancements, the industry is returning to “limited representation and having to stake claim of our stories.” Rae remarked, “We’re back where we started, in a way, but wiser.”
She also shared troubling feedback from industry executives of color who told her they “can’t cosign you” for fear of jeopardizing their jobs, as they navigate the ongoing rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Issa Rae in ‘Insecure’ Justina Mintz/HBO
“I’m seeing it. Just blatantly,” Rae remarked, highlighting reduced investment in diverse projects. “DEI has changed meanings and has become a bad word.”
She also advised creators to adapt their marketing strategies, stating, “You have to be smarter about how you package and market [projects]. 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’s work on HBO’s Insecure, which ran for five seasons from 2016 to 2021, was inspired by her earlier YouTube series, Awkward Black Girl.
Most recently, Rae signed a three-year first-look deal with Paramount, which has been one of several media companies that have faced scrutiny for rolling back DEI initiatives since last year’s Skydance merger.
