The Age of Pleasure: A Fantastic Ode to Freedom 
Caught in the Web: Across The Spider-Verse 
A Meal Fit For A King: Online Obsession, Memes and Succession Spoilers 
Yellowjackets: The Truth We Tell Ourselves is the Wildest Lie 
The Little Mermaid and Camille Friend, The Woman Behind the Locs 
The sense of security Black women feel when watching a show titled, ‘Insecure’, is an oxymoron.
HBO, has a promising new show this fall with, Insecure,backed up by the creative minds of ,Awkward Black Girl, Issa Rae, and Comedy Central tv show host of, The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore, Larry Wilmore
In, Issa Rae’s, debut show from her self titled productions, Issa Rae Productions, Insecure, an extension of her web series, Awkward Black Girl, accurately highlights the less than good-feel moments Black women go through throughout their life.
The show is almost a healing, to the open wounds of Black girls everywhere. The many times a Black woman has doubted herself, but brushed it off as “over-exaggerating”, but then to watch a show, that captures those moments, so vividly, and the responses they should have had, is reassuring. The importance of making their feelings valid, is almost poetic.
Themes of colorism, self doubt, anti-Blackness within the Black community, (especially when dating), the White saviorism complex, and the insecurity that shines on the beautiful skin of Black women everywhere, even when they have done more than enough.
The relatability of this show really can appeal to everyone. The show stars people of color, primarily Black characters, but the sense of feeling like there’s more that to life that what you’re doing now, is something everyone understands.
Now, back to the premise of the show, Issa Rae, pulls a Will Smith from ‘The Fresh Prince’,and keeps her first name,while playing Issa Dee. Issa, works at, ‘We Got Y’all”, a non-profit group, that aims to help inner-city kids to make it out of the hood,with a bunch of white co-workers, who look like they watched “Freedom Writers” once and decided that they wanted to be that type of white person. The white Jesus. As comical as it looks in the show, Issa, subtly shows how dangerous it is for people to help a community that they don’t understand, because they don’t want to, and if you know, then you know.
Issa, turns 29, in the first episode, and immediately questions all aspects of her life from her 5 year relationship with her boyfriend, Lawrence, who stays at home, with promises of a “business plan”.
Like so many, Issa, realizes her potential and her fears, and knows the importance to stop seeing her dream life as a concept, but as something she can do. Issa, raps to herself numerous times during the show in the mirror, for self confidence, for humor, for expression. Moments like this, viewers understand Issa is feeling insecure, and how awkward she must feel in her own life. Issa goes into secondary character mode, where she feels as she’s watching her life and not living. Two episodes in, and we already see noticeable changes Issa, makes, in order to live a life she feels worth leading,
Throughout the show, we are introduced to Issa best friend, Molly Carter, a successful Black lawyer, who used to be an inner city kid. Molly goes through a dating crisis, stressing the real life issue of Black men, dating non Black women, or lighter skinned women.
As a dark skinned, Black woman, Molly internalized all of the rejection from her race, the rest of the world, and becomes the damn best lawyer in the tri-state area, but somehow that isn’t enough for her, or her coworkers. There is a scene in where Molly solves a problem with a case for the firm she works at, but her peers and bosses would rather focus on the engagement of one of her co-workers. Major eye-roll and pissed off moment for the viewers. With the season only starting, it will be interesting to see how Molly’s character develops, and if she ever finds love that leads to marriage.
Insecure writes melodies of, Black Girl Magic. From scenes of wrapped hair at night, to dancing and rapping on beat then being so unapologetically loud and carefree, and being Black doing so, is so nice for many, including me to see. So many beautiful Black girl secrets wrapped under Molly’s hair wrap, understood and recognized by Issa, by Black girls everywhere.
This show is important for many Black women everywhere, to see their stories told by those who are apart of them. Insecure, is a learning opportunity for Black men, to watch, listen, learn and change for the better. Also to everyone who felt lesser than, when they have always been more.
Here’s to global recognition, many more seasons. Here’s to the newfound security found with, Insecure. Make sure to tune in on every Sunday at 10:30 on @HBO!
This article was written by, Nasteha. Double majoring in English and Journalism, and her second year at community college, Nasteha plans to transfer to UCLA/NYU and is an aspiring entertainment journalist.
Nasteha’s Media:
Twitter: @nvstexa
Tumblr: www.nvstexa.tumblr.com
Instagram: @nvstexa
All Inquiries- nasteha64@gmail.com
Keshav Kant, aka Mx. KantEven, is a med student tuned Executive Director of Off Colour!
You’ve probably seen her on Twitter and TikTok, both @MxKantEven, or caught her work on Off Colour's many channels.
From consulting on films & shows, manuscript review, conducting interviews, or hosting podcasts & panels, if there is some way to bring sensitivity and authenticity to diversity, inclusion and equity conversations, Keshav will be there.