‘Awkward Black Girl’ Creator Issa Rae on Shorty Award Win and Online Racism

‘Awkward Black Girl’ Creator Issa Rae on Shorty Award Win and Online Racism


After beating out numerous other web series to win the 2012 Shorty Award for Best Web Show in March, Issa Rae took to Facebook and Twitter to announce the big win. Within minutes, producers and fans of two of the other nominated shows, as well as hashtag bandwagoners began bashing The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl on Twitter. Several commenters took the virtual belittling to the next level, not only downgrading the quality of the web series, but spewing racial epithets and making light of the tragic death of Trayvon Martin. Rae spoke to BlackEnterprise.com about her Shorty Award win, the racist comments and why ABG haters are her motivators.

(Produced by Janel Martinez; Videography and editing by Brain Food Film)


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