Web star Issa Rae says her show, The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, has encouraged a lot of awkward Black girls to come out of the closet.
“People email me letters and comments saying, ‘I relate to you so much and I never knew what it was called. But now I can say I’m an awkward black girl,'” she said.
Since the web series premiered in 2011, Rae says the most awkward thing that happens is when people approach her and expect her to be awkward. “Being recognized is one thing and I get really embarrassed when people stop me on the street,” she said. “Then they just stare at me, waiting for me to do something uncomfortable and that makes me uncomfortable. So, they get what they want.”
The 27-year-old, who was named a Young, Black and Amazing woman in the August issue of ESSENCE Magazine, has teamed up with Pharrell Williams’ I am Other venture to fund the second season of the show.
Check out the video to see Issa Rae talk about working with Pharrell and what makes her young, Black and amazing.