Issa Rae Uncovers the Origins and History of Black-led Television with New Docuseries “Seen & Heard”
Issa Rae has had a wildly successful past couple of years, and with her latest project “Seen & Heard” she is aiming to use that success and ever-growing celebrity status as a way to spotlight the often-neglected achievements and history of Black creators and their contributions to the TV industry.
“‘Seen & Heard’ is the most comprehensive history of Black television you will ever see,” Issa Rae said during the premiere of the first episode of the two-part documentary earlier this month at SXSW. Directed by Giselle Bailey and produced by Rae, the series takes a deep dive into the evolution of Black representation in TV through personal records, archival footage and open discussions. The miniseries also honors the legacy of the industry trailblazers who paved the way for recognition and opportunity in TV, as well as those who are shaping the industry today.
Rae is Unearthing Hollywood’s History of Blatant Disregard for Black Creators
Rae was honored at SXSW as a keynote speaker, where she spoke on her intentions behind making “Seen & Heard” and reflected on her journey of unearthing Hollywood’s history of blatant disregard for Black creators and Black audiences in the television industry. “It sounds like a conspiracy,” she said about the pattern of big-name TV studios profiting off of the success of Black-led shows and then abandoning them or cancelling whenever convenient. This trend of cable networks stringing along both entertainers and audiences only to sweep the rug out from under them is something Rae first noticed herself in the early 2000s, when there was a scarcity of Black-driven network TV shows. This realization is ultimately what inspired her to create hits like her viral web series “Awkward Black Girl” and the Emmy award nominated show “Insecure.”
Eye-Opening Perspectives
“Seen & Heard” features firsthand testimonials from some of the biggest names in TV, both past and present; legendary figures like Oprah Winfrey, Shonda Rhimes and Ava DuVernay all make appearances in the miniseries, where they share their insights and speak about their experiences and relationships with the television industry as Black creators. Many of the TV veterans included in the docuseries divulged previously unknown details about their careers, and offered eye-opening perspectives on the inner-workings of the television industry. With the documentary, Rae’s goal is “to 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.”
With “Seen & Heard” Rae hopes to give Black entertainers and creators the flowers they earned, all the while using her platform and outreach to call attention to the industry’s historic neglect of Black audiences. It is a celebration of the cultural contributions of Black creators, and a sobering reality check, but also a hopeful nod to the future of the industry. “Seen & Heard” is an HBO exclusive, so it will be available to stream on Max in the coming weeks.
