‘Insecure’ at 10: How Issa Rae’s HBO Series Changed the Landscape of Black Television
Cover: Issa Rae at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 12, 2026. File photo: Jay Dixit/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Display copy resized. This is not the Inglewood anniversary event.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The “Insecure” 10th-anniversary reunion brought Issa Rae, showrunner Prentice Penny and cast members Yvonne Orji, Jay Ellis and Natasha Rothwell to YouTube Theater on Oct. 8, 2026. The Inglewood gathering marked a decade since the HBO series’ debut and offered a local celebration of a show centered on Black friendship, relationships and adulthood.
TheGrio reported in September that the planned 13-city tour was canceled because of scheduling conflicts, while the Inglewood event remained on the calendar.
The 10th anniversary celebration honored more than a popular comedy. It recognized a cultural phenomenon that changed how Black women were portrayed on television, created opportunities for emerging talent and showcased the neighborhoods, businesses and cultural identity of Black Los Angeles.
Created by Rae and Larry Wilmore, “Insecure” premiered Oct. 9, 2016, following Issa Dee, a young Black woman navigating friendships, relationships and career challenges in Los Angeles. The series ran for five seasons, ending Dec. 26, 2021.
Its stories made room for humor, ambition and uncertainty in the lives of Black Angelenos. “Insecure” centered everyday experiences, allowing Black characters to be funny, vulnerable, successful, flawed and unapologetically themselves.
“Insecure” and opportunities for Black creatives
One of the show’s most significant contributions was its influence on opportunities for Black talent both in front of and behind the camera. Rae first gained recognition through her independently produced YouTube series, “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl,” demonstrating that Black creators could build audiences outside traditional Hollywood systems.
Her transition to HBO helped establish a new model for independent creators seeking greater creative control and industry opportunities. “Insecure” also elevated the careers of cast members including Yvonne Orji, Jay Ellis, Natasha Rothwell and Kendrick Sampson, while providing opportunities for Black writers, directors and producers.
Writer and showrunner Prentice Penny helped shape the series, which became an example of the value of investing in Black-led creative teams. Rae subsequently expanded her influence through Hoorae, her media company, developing additional television, film and digital projects.
Although “Insecure” was part of a broader resurgence in Black television, its success helped demonstrate the commercial and cultural value of stories developed by Black creators.
Black Los Angeles at the center of “Insecure”
Beyond its impact on Hollywood, “Insecure” became a cultural love letter to Black Los Angeles. The series prominently featured Inglewood, Leimert Park and other historically Black communities, showcasing neighborhood restaurants, local businesses, music and cultural landmarks.
At a time when South Los Angeles was frequently depicted through stories about crime and poverty, “Insecure” presented a different narrative — one centered on Black professionals, entrepreneurs, friendships and everyday community life. Its portrayal of Los Angeles also came during a period of growing conversations about gentrification and the changing identity of historically Black neighborhoods.
The decision to hold the anniversary celebration in Inglewood brought the series back to a community central to its identity. The Oct. 8 celebration reunited Rae, Penny and cast members Orji, Ellis and Rothwell for an evening reflecting on the show’s memorable moments and lasting influence. The series helped prove that Black-centered entertainment could achieve mainstream success without sacrificing cultural authenticity.
Watch VOBLA’s “Insecure” reunion coverage
VOBLA shared footage of the cast’s Inglewood reunion on Oct. 10. The Instagram post credits Hoorae for the video.
Watch the reunion video on VOBLA’s Instagram.
More from Black Los Angeles
Explore VOBLA’s culture and entertainment coverage and our reporting on Two Hommés’ fourth anniversary in Inglewood for more on the people and places shaping Black Los Angeles.
