If there is one thing Issa Rae has always done, is bet on Black. Her commitment to elevating her community has always remained at the forefront of all her projects and initiatives, and she has never shied away from calling out Hollywood for its treatment of Black-led television shows. Last year, following the cancellation of Rap Sh!t by Warner Bros, alongside other shows like A Black Lady Sketch Show, Issa expressed her frustration about Hollywood’s failure to live up to its 2020 promise for more Black content. Now, she is amplifying the reality of the Black experience by chronicling the history of Black TV.
During a keynote discussion at the South by Southwest Conference and Festival (SXSM) this year, Issa premiered her new project, Seen & Heard. This two-part documentary explores how major networks have profited from Black audiences, only to abandon them.
We wanted to make a comprehensive history and showcase, with evidence, that this is how they built the success of their networks on our backs, and we almost don’t have anything to show for it as a result. It’s tragic, and history repeats itself.” - Issa Rae
Issa expressed that while iconic Black sitcoms like Moesha and Martin initially inspired her to work in TV, the decline of Black scripted shows on air, as well as the portrayal of Black women in reality television, were the real catalysts for her desire to make a change. Through Seen & Heard, she is bringing together a number of trailblazers, including Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Tracee Ellis Ross and Shonda Rhimes, to reflect on their own experiences. Together, they offer a window into the Black experience on TV and the ongoing struggle to be truly seen and heard.
