Issa Rae Explores the History of Black Television in New Documentary
Award-winning actor, producer, and writer Issa Rae is opening up about what inspired her new documentary, “Seen and Heard: The History of Black Television.” She’s executive producer of the two-part series that explores the history of Black representation on TV and how Black artists and creators revolutionized the industry while confronting major challenges. The series features media icons such as Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Tracee Ellis Ross, Norman Lear, and Shonda Rhimes.
A Personal Inspiration
For Rae, the inspiration to create the documentary stemmed from her own experiences growing up in the 90s. “What inspired me to even get my start was just seeing the people that I love, the people that I know, the people that raised me on TV, and that representation was so essential for me to recognize that I could do it,” she told “CBS Mornings” Tuesday. Rae noted that in the early 2000s, there was a “disappearance all of the sudden” of Black characters and shows on TV, but they reemerged about a decade later.
The Evolution of Black Representation on TV
In the 2010s, “there were just so many new shows, new shows of color,” Rae said. However, she noted that TV and media are once again in an era where Black characters and shows have disappeared. Rae attributed this to the advent of cable, which led networks to try to capture the broadest audience possible. “They have a tendency to go broad then, and broad sometimes just means White, the most eyeballs that you can get,” she said.
The Importance of Representation Behind the Camera
The documentary also explores the importance of representation behind the camera. Rae emphasized that small details, such as set design, can make a big difference in creating an authentic story. “It makes such a difference when you’re thinking about something as small as set design. I’ve seen that just even on my own productions and watching movies. Sometimes you’ll watch a movie and you’ll see a Black character’s bedroom, and you’ll be like ‘they would never, what? They would never have that,'” she said.
A New Era of Opportunities
Despite the challenges facing the media industry, Rae remains optimistic. “I find hope in knowing that I can create. If I want to tell a story I’m going to tell a story regardless,” she said. The HBO documentary film “Seen and Heard: The History of Black Television” debuts Sept. 9 on HBO and HBO Max.
Kelsie Hoffman, a push and platform editor on CBS News’ Growth and Engagement team, previously worked on Hearst Television’s National Desk and as a local TV reporter in Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Learn more about Issa Rae’s documentary and the history of Black television Here
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