Filmmaker Issa Rae describes ’do-it-yourself’ approach to success

J, the protagonist of the hit web series The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl , is self-conscious, misanthropic, sarcastic and, yes, awkward. Issa Rae, the creator, writer and star of the award-winning show, had long been frustrated by the lack of complex, realistic black characters in popular culture—so she filled the gap herself. "Black women on TV are not the black women [who] are my friends," Rae told UChicago students over lunch at the Logan Center on Nov. At the invitation of the Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture , Rae visited the University to speak with students, meet with local artists and participate in a public conversation in Mandel Hall with Jacqueline Stewart, professor in Cinema and Media Studies and the College. Clearly, Rae wasn't alone in her longing for a more nuanced and expansive portrayal of black women: The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl has attracted more than 20 million views on YouTube and thousands of fans and supporters. The online series helped to launch Rae's career in the entertainment industry, resulting in a memoir and an upcoming TV series on HBO. Nova Smith, a PhD student in Cinema and Media Studies whose research focuses on African American film, introduced Rae at the public conversation.