⭐ Issa stated that growing up in Potomac, Maryland, she was surrounded by "things that aren't considered black," like the swim team and street hockey and Passover dinners with Jewish best friends.

⭐ In the six grade, Issa and family moved to the affluent View Park-Windsor Hills in Los Angeles. She attended a predominantly black middle school where she was berated for 'acting white.'

⭐ Rae graduated from Stanford University with a major in African and African-American Studies. In college she created a mock reality series called Dorm Diaries.

⭐ Rae's web series Awkward Black Girl premiered on YouTube in 2011. The show follows the life of J (played by Rae) as she interacts with co-workers and love interests who place her in uncomfortable situations. The series went viral. Awkward Black Girl won a Shorty award for Best Web Show.

⭐ Insecure, Issa's show on HBO of which she is co-creator, producer, writer and actress, has garnered two Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy in 2017 and 2018, as well as a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2018.

⭐ Rae's first book,  a New York Times best-seller titled The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl humorously chronicles her personal struggle about not fitting in, and not being considered "black enough."

⭐ Look out for Issa's starring role in Paramount's newest romantic comedy, The Lovebirds, with Kumail Nanjiani.  Issa will be executive producing the film with Nanjiani.  The Lovebirds will go into production at the end of January.


Issa Rae's quote:
“I thrive on obstacles. If I’m told that it can’t be done, then I push harder.”

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@issarae