Issa Rae, the multi-hyphenate dynamo, has realized her destiny once more. Rae’s 2010 tweet, “When I grow up, I want to be a more successful version of me,” became part of Twitter’s “Tweet It Into Existence” marketing campaign. Since tweeting those words into existence, the media mogul has created the groundbreaking series Insecure, which featured a scene of the successful version of Issa Dee being given the key to the city of Inglewood in its fifth and final season.
Rae has been presented with the key to the city by real-life Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, rather than Tyra Banks, who played the mayor in episode eight of season five.
According to People, she is the only individual in the 114-year history of the city of South Los Angeles to win such a distinction.
“I’m a little emotional, I’m trying to be a thug right now. The mayor really flabbergasted me in that this is the first key in 114 years. It’s a huge honor and I just want to thank you all so much for your support,” Rae said during her speech at the Taste of Inglewood festival on Saturday.
“Thank you to the mayor, thank you to the city of Inglewood for making it so easy for us to film here, for helping us to showcase this city that I love so much,” Rae continued.
“I have to give love to my grandparents who have lived here, who have lived in Briarwood for a long time and who established my first point of view of Inglewood and love the city themselves; my mom and my sister who live here actively,” she added. “And just for being here, I have to give a shout-out to my collaborators and my company members at Hoorae who have come out here to support me. But I’m truly honored to receive this. I will always put on for my city. Inglewood, South L.A., stand up.”
Rae, who uses every chance to highlight the city’s rich culture and Black-owned businesses through her work, is someone who puts on for their city.
The “Queen of Inglewood” deserves a standing ovation.
“I’m a little emotional, I’m trying to be a thug right now. The mayor really flabbergasted me in that this is the first key in 114 years. It’s a huge honor and I just want to thank you all so much for your support. Thank you to the mayor, thank you to the city of Inglewood for making it so easy for us to film here, for helping us to showcase this city that I love so much,” Rae said at the presentation.
Rae will be honored with the 2022 Visionary Award at this year’s 33rd Annual Producers Guild Awards, according to The Producers Guild of America (PGA). This will be held at the Fairmont Century Plaza on Saturday, March 19, 2022.
