Issa Rae wasn’t born—she
was handcrafted by God was handcrafted by God
herself. Or she’s an alien herself. Or she’s an alien
with otherworldly powers. with otherworldly powers.
I’mI’m not totally sure which, not totally sure which,
but how other than a touch but how other than a touch
of the super of the super natural can natural can
you explain somyou explain someone who eone who
can truly do everything can truly do everything
to perfection? to perfection?
Issa is not only a pro-Issa is not only a pro-
lific writer, a captivat-lific writer, a captivat-
ing actor and coming actor and comedian, edian,
a profound leader, an efa profound leader, an ef--
ficacious producer, and ficacious producer, and
a ma music music mogul in the ogul in the
mmaking (pauses to take a aking (pauses to take a
breath)—breath)—she’s also a con-she’s also a con-
sistently hilarious and sistently hilarious and
loyal friend. For those of loyal friend. For those of
us lucky enough to know us lucky enough to know
her, Issa is everything you her, Issa is everything you
want a person to be: kind, want a person to be: kind,
funny, down to earth. funny, down to earth.
Even if you don’t have Even if you don’t have
the privilege of knowing the privilege of knowing
her, you feel a famher, you feel a familiarity iliarity
with the womwith the woman with the an with the
unstoppable cheekbones unstoppable cheekbones
and infectious laugh. In and infectious laugh. In
Insecure,Insecure, Issa created Issa created
an instantly archetypal an instantly archetypal
comcomedy, set to influence edy, set to influence
generations of shows to generations of shows to
comcome. She taught us that e. She taught us that
the normthe norm of everyday life of everyday life
is just as dramis just as dramatic as any atic as any
super super hero storyline and hero storyline and
that we can be the heroes that we can be the heroes
of our own lives.of our own lives.Thede is the creator and Thede is the creator and
showrunner of showrunner of A Black A Black
Lady Sketch ShowLady Sketch ShowIssa RIssa Raeae
Making her mark
B Y R O B I N T H E D EB Y R O B I N T H E D EPHOTOGRAPHPHOT OGRA PH BY E RBYERIKI K C A RT E RCARTE 9999