Issa Rae Wants You To Know Manners & Money Don't Always Mix
I was raised in the south, where forgetting to address your elder as "ma'am" or "sir" is a mortal sin, and "please" and "thank you" are sprinkled at the end of sentences like salt and pepper. But as I get older, I've learned that manners and money don't always mix, and in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Issa Rae explained how she learned this firsthand.
The Insecure creator explained that although she may have been naive when she entered the business, she now is completely aware of her worth and her personal obligation to add tax. She explained:
"I've definitely demanded. Yvonne joked before the Emmy nominations came out, 'Girl, I told all my agents, 'Don't make no deals until after Tuesday or Monday,' whenever the announcements were, 'because our price is going up or down.' So there is something to that, too, of just realizing your worth."
"Also, seeing how little these white people care about asking for more than they're worth in many cases.You can't be polite or tiptoe, or be modest about those things. You're seeing these nine-, 10-figure deals out there. I have a great team that also is not afraid to ask for beyond my worth. I have an amazing Black lawyer who is constantly being like, 'No, I'm going to get you better.' Or, 'No, I'm going to make sure. I heard that so-and-so made this, you're about to make this.'"
For more gems from Issa on how to align your business mind and get your business mind all the way together, scroll below!
On Managing Self-Doubt:
Successful creatives aren't immune to self-doubt and Issa Rae says that this is big facts. In the interview, Issa broke down how her insecurity and negative self-talk almost blocked her bag:
"[With] 'Insecure', it took so long and every draft was like, 'No, this isn't it. No, this isn't it. No, this isn't it.' I was just like, 'Oh, OK. Maybe this is the end of the road for me,' especially when I'm investing in this big venture, which ended up being ColorCreative, and spent all my money and didn't have anything. I remember being on the set of a pilot we were filming ['Words with Girls'] and getting the call that HBO was not feeling the latest draft and I was losing Larry [Wilmore, 'Insecure''s first showrunner]. I was like, 'This isn't going to happen for me, and I just did all of this for nothing.'"
"Thankfully, Larry leaving for The Nightly Show, as much as I love him, was the best thing that could've happened because it forced me to be like, 'OK. It's not a workplace comedy,' and having a conversation with HBO was really helpful just in terms of centering it. It was just like, 'I'm going to put everything that I'm going through out on the table in this pilot. If they say no, at least I tried, and fuck it.'"
On Accepting Constructing Criticism:
"I'm open to all criticism. I feel like you have to be, to be in this industry. There are Black critics that I value what they think because I read what they read, or I read what they write about everything. I love it. I can see this point of view, and that's so interesting. It may be reflected in something else that I do down the line, or it may spark inspiration for conversations that we may have. We feed each other in that really interesting way."
"But let's be real. There are a couple where I'm like, 'Oh, this person just comes for me,' or 'This person doesn't like me.' You're putting your personal life into it. You're a blogger, not a critic at this point. It's an art form."
On Keeping Business & Personal Life Personal:
Last year, it was announced that Issa and her longtime boyfriend, businessman Louis Diame were engaged to be married and had us shook. Issa, who is normally tight-lipped when it comes to her personal life, said that we can expect it to stay that way––because it's none of our damn business.
"I guess because it's private. Whose business is it? I realized I just don't like to be the subject of conversations if it doesn't have to do with my work. I've always been like that, where I'd be dating someone and my friends would find out six months later. Like, 'B*tch, what the f*ck? Why don't we know this?' So it's just always been that I want to vet situations for myself. I really value that part of my life a lot."
To read Issa's full interview, click here!
Featured image by Getty Images.
Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Rihanna Talks Shedding Expectations And Finding Balance As A Mother
Since becoming a mother in 2022, Rihanna has defined parenthood by her terms and hopes to pass that sense of autonomy on to her children.
For Vogue China’s April cover story, Rihanna shared her perspective on raising her two sons with A$AP Rocky, and how she hopes to preserve her children’s uniqueness, devoid of societal expectations.
"The most beautiful thing...is that [children] come into the world with their own individuality and sincerity, without any logic or conformity,” she told the publication. “Which usually makes you feel that you must fit into a certain group."
The “Work” artist, known for her trendsetting style and captivating persona, expressed her desire to support children in fully embracing their individuality and encouraging them to be whoever they want to be. "It's really beautiful to see and I want to continue to help them navigate that and make sure that they know they can be whoever they want to be,” she says.
She continues, “They should embrace it completely, because it's beautiful, and it's unique. I love them just that way."
From shattering music charts to shaking up the beauty industry, Rihanna has forged a path that has since created the “dream” life we see today. One that she says has made her parents proud of.
“I’m living my dream,” she continued. “My parents were very proud of that because they just wanted me to be happy and successful. So, I think the key thing is to find some kind of balance. Yes, balance is important. Do this and you get the best of both worlds. You can write your own life the way you want, and it will be beautiful. Sometimes, you just need to let go of everyone’s expectations and start living your own story.”
Rihanna, who shares sons, RZA, 23 months, and Riot, 8 months, with rapper A$AP Rocky, recently shared her vision for expanding her family in the future in Interview Magazine.
When stylist Mel Ottenberg asked about the number of additional children she hoped to have, Rihanna replied, "As many as God wants me to have.”
"I don't know what God wants, but I would go for more than two. I would try for my girl,” she adds. “But of course, if it's another boy, it's another boy."
Featured image by Neil MockfordWireImage
