Issa Rae

The 23rd Annual Webby Awards is thrilled to honor Issa Rae as the 2019 Webby Video Person of the Year for her groundbreaking work with Issa Rae Productions, and for her ingenious use of the Internet to educate and showcase breakthrough content from diverse creators.

A true visionary, Rae is redefining what is possible for young, black creatives through Issa Rae Productions and its original content. From series like “pieces,” to the “ColorCreative MasterClass” online course helping diverse artists learn writing, directing, and producing, to her fireside chat series “A Sip,” Rae continuously uses the Internet to innovate and create a space for the next generation of storytellers. Moreover, Rae uses her online platform to uplift and advocate for multifaceted, unapologetically black stories to be told: as can be seen through her HBO hit “Insecure,” and the films “Little” and “The Photograph.” For using the Internet to create culture-shifting work, and for carving new spaces for black storytellers to find their voices, it is our privilege to honor Issa Rae as Webby Video Person of the Year.