Issa Rae is in two big movies: The Photograph, an old-fashioned romance/drama, and The Lovebirds, a comedy with a lot of romance. In both films, her love interests are not white men. In The Photograph, she’s paired with Lakeith Stanfield, and in The Lovebirds, her love interest is Kumail Nanjiani. Sidenote: for some reason, I want to believe that Kumail and Issa had the best time working together. They just seem like two people who would really “get” each other. Anyway, the fact that Issa did back-to-back movies where she’s not slaying white dudes is notable to some people. Which is why Issa is sharing a little PSA. Some highlights from this excellent Variety interview:
The interracial romance of The Lovebirds: “Every time there’s an interracial romance, it feels like it centers on whiteness, and it doesn’t have to… Just so you know, there are people who don’t procreate with just white people.”
She’s still rooting for “everybody black.” After co-announcing the overwhelmingly white and male 2020 Oscar nominations with John Cho, Rae said she was growing tired of questions about diversity and the dearth of women being recognized for their work in Hollywood. “I don’t feel like it’s up to me to answer those questions. Like, I’m doing the work. I’m out here. I’m employing who I need to employ, I’m telling the stories that I need to tell. Those questions need to be asked to the powers-that-be. It needs to be asked to the white people who run this industry.”
On Joaquin Phoenix’s BAFTA speech about dismantling white power structures: “I thought it was a step in the right direction. It’s just — hopefully, something will be done. I think it’s easy to be like, [clapping to mimic applause] ‘I’m so glad he said something. Next. Let’s go get tacos.’”
Unfortunately, I think most (white) people in the industry feel like “good for Joaquin for saying something, now we’ve paid lip service to it and we can get some tacos.” There’s a perfunctory performative wokeness now, and I’m not saying that’s what Joaquin intended – I think Joaquin really meant what he said and he said it with a great deal of earnestness. But other people – Prince William, unnamed Hollywood producers, etc – just want to come out and say “yes, we need more diversity, it must be done” and then continue to just exalt and promote white sh-t. As for Issa’s PSA about how sometimes interracial relationships don’t even have to include white peeps… I’m sure that will be shocking to some people!
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I am stoked for her and Kumail’s film together. And I think the promotion for it will be great as well.
On a superficial note and worth saying again, Issa is stunning. STUNNING !!!
… whereas I am so excited for The Photograph as I’m in complete lust with Lakeith Stanfield!
But agreed – she’s gorgeous and talented. Glad she’s doing so well.
I love her, cant wait for Insecure to come back on
Insecure is really good! And Issa is SOOOO beautiful.
I’m really happy to see her getting some big movie roles, she’s very talented and deserves to be a major star.
Those questions need to be asked to the powers-that-be. It needs to be asked to the white people who run this industry.”
Exactly this. I think we need to stop holding black actresses and actresses of color to these impossible standards and start looking at the people with the ACTUAL power in the industry. Ask them these questions about diversity. Ask why they aren’t hiring more directors of color and actors of color and ask casting directors what THEY are doing. People forget that actors are essentially employees. Now if you are an actor with tremendous power within the industry – like a Joaquin for example – that is a different story.
I remember watching Awkward Black Girl on Youtube. I’m so glad to see how successful she’s become.
I was just thinking about that. She’s really come such a long way, but even then, I remember watching that series and thinking she had the spark and wit. She just needed the right opportunity to jump into the industry.
She looks gorgeous.
Love Issa Rae! Glad she’s moved into movies as well!
Honestly think these diversity questions are asked of black creatives to make them feel even more out of place and unwelcome. Like “ how do you feel about Hollywood’s lack of diversity???” How do they expect a black person to answer that? No wonder people are fed up being asked. It essentially reads as “aren’t you lucky to be here?? Tell us how grateful you are”
Been thinking a lot lately about how white spaces are unwelcoming to people of color in subtle ways. How even well meaning whites push minorities out. This is one. The stupid othering questions.
And those films so different. She’s obviously working at diverse roles and not being pigeonholed. The trailers came out at the same time during a few movies we’ve seen. My daughter was like ‘isn’t that the same lady from the other trailer?’ (She’s especially geared up for the comedy which just looks like a fun good time) She looks so different in them too. Attractive in both but boy does she look stunning in The Photograph. I just hope they don’t step on each other promotion/ box office wise because it could be a real solid one-two punch career wise if they do well. With Kumail’s The Eternals role they could both be poised for a real breakout. And Lakeith Stanfield is coming off Knives Out.
I don’t think Lovebirds is out for another few weeks, but yes, I hope it’s a good run of success for her with both.
I have enjoyed Lakeith Stanfield in everything I’ve seen him in. His smaller role in Get Out was really impactful too. He was also in Short Term 12, which I highly recommend, and which ended up having a lot of now well known actors in the cast.
My husband knows that I will only replace him for Issa Rae. She’s my Big Crush.
Gorgeous!!
Lovebirds, those people are my DNA and it’ll be the first time for me seeing that represented in film. Fifty year, I’ve waited a long time for this!! Seriously, why does one half of the interracial couple always have to be white?
Incredibly thoughtful and truthful. I live in a melting pot of interracial relationships of all kinds here in my Southern African country, and because of that, we’re used to see:
Indian looking people who are christian or not
Black looking people who are hind
Mixed people of all kinds of shades that are not what is stereotypically expected or assumed of them to be.
It’s amazing to see.
So, so, SO happy to a) see a South Asian and Black interracial relationship and b) that Issa said something about it!! I’m so sick of seeing Asian men and women always paired off with a white love interest. Considering the deep rooted self-hate in many Asian countries (I’m South Asian, trust) and the notion that “white is right,” constantly seeing minorities paired off with white partners just continues to subtly (and not so subtly) reinforce these harmful ideologies. Plus, in the melting pot society that we live in, it’s just not realistic – there are tons of non-white biracial couples in the world, they deserve representation! I’m so happy that Issa is part of this representation and Kumail came along too – I just wish more South Asian celebrities – like Mindy Kaling, etc. – would step up to the plate more in this regard. Hopefully, with this movie, we’ll start to see it!
I’ve loved Issa since the first time I saw ‘Awkward Black Girl’ on YouTube. I’m so proud of her. And I love that she’s exploring different types of love stories. It’s so important that people of colour see themselves as REAL men and women, capable of loving and being loved.