The Power of Representation: Issa Rae, Oprah Winfrey and More Celebrate Black Talent on Screen
Issa Rae, Oprah Winfrey, and other trailblazers reflect on legacy, representation, and the future of Black storytelling in HBO’s Seen & Heard documentary. We discuss it here!
Issa Rae for Sienna Naturals via Issa Rae Instagram
By: Joshua Martin
“If you’re telling Black stories, then you need to have Black people create their own. It’s about that. It’s about legacy.”
Seen & Heard, a two part HBO original documentary set to premier this fall, explores the evolution of Black visibility and storytelling on television.
Black storytelling on television takes center stage this September, with the premiere of Seen & Heard, a two part HBO documentary executive produced by Issa Rae. The film explores the evolution of Black visibility on TV, highlighting the triumphs and challenges faced by Black creatives throughout history.
The newly released trailer features powerful reflections from industry icons such as Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Shonda Rhimes, Lena Waithe, Tracee Ellis Ross and Debbie Allen. Their words capture both the progress and the ongoing fight for authentic representation.
Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television | Official Trailer | HBO Max
For Rae, the project builds on her own legacy, including the groundbreaking HBO series Insecure.
Oprah Winfrey recalls the absence of representation during her upbringing. Her statement underscores the significance of Black creatives shaping narratives that once excluded them.
“I grew up when there was nobody like me on TV. “It was like, ‘Okay, networks, you don’t have a place for me? I’m making my own place.”
The documentary also revisits the cultural resonance of shows like Moesha and Abbott Elementary, while spotlighting a new generation of visionaries such as Ava DuVernay, Cord Jefferson and Swizz Beatz. With moments of humor, joy and determination, “Seen & Heard” positions itself as both a historical tribute and a rallying cry for the future of television.
“Let’s go, let’s do this. I’m ready. I’m about to kill this s—.”
Seen & Heard is set to premiere in September on HBO.
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Issa Rae Discusses the Renewal of 'Insecure' for a Fourth Season
Issa Rae’s hit HBO series Insecure was renewed for a fourth season and the creator and star of the comedy series made it very clear who her loyalty on the show is to!
“I could never do this show and have a predominantly white staff.”
By: Omar Cook
Issa Rae’s hit HBO series Insecure was renewed for a fourth season and the creator and star of the comedy series made it very clear who her loyalty on the show is to! In a recent interview, Issa Rae discussed that the success of the show is due to the predominantly minority staff that creates a show that black people can relate to without having to explain the overall blackness of the show to its non-black viewers. It's safe to say the show is unapologetically black, and she is perfectly ok with it being portrayed that way.
Rae uses Los Angeles as the setting for her series and lets it be known her discomfort of the gentrification of the area. “White people left the neighborhood, there was white flight, and now they’re coming back and pushing us out,” Rae told The Shade Room creator Angelica Nwandu. “I’m moving back there—that’s what I want—but I’ve already seen the change. It’s disheartening.”
Even though the majority of the show's viewers are non-black, Issa Rae discussed the importance of “surrounding myself with people of color. I could never do this show and have a predominantly white staff.” Issa Rae giving credit to her minority staff is what the culture needs—acknowledgement. African American culture needs more shows that highlights our culture and shows us being ourselves in a positive light, and this show provides just that. This is what black excellence looks like, from on the screen to behind the scenes.
Season 3 popped off on August 12 and you can view it on Sunday nights at 10:30 p.m. ET.
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Meet Joshua Martin, Senior Video Editor for 247 Live Culture!
Email: Joshua@247LCTV.com