STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Dear Wypipo: Allow Issa Rae To School You On The Effects Of White Privilege

This is brilliant.

Issa Rae is no stranger to speaking candidly about race. The Insecure creator set social media ablaze after she proclaimed that she was “rooting for everybody Black” at the Emmy Awards last month, and now she’s back with more race-oriented tea.

During a chat with TheCut.com, Issa tackled the constant debate surrounding white male privilege. “They don’t get that we’re not all starting from the same starting point. Straight, cis, white men don’t have the same obstacles — there’s not much in their path. That’s not to say that they don’t have any of their own problems, but the playing field is not level by any means,” she began.

Going further, she dished on how white privilege impacts minorities on a collegiate level. “It’s easy for people to dismiss your history, dismiss where you came from. Just because we graduated from the same college doesn’t mean we have the same opportunities. There’s bias, even in the hiring process, and that’s something not enough people are aware of. It feels like a vicious Catch-22 when there aren’t diverse people behind the scenes,” she said.

Detailing specific ways that white privilege affects minorities she continued, “That [lack of diversity] alters the company or organization perspective, which means they’re not going to have people who look like the people they are trying to recruit.” Well said, Issa.

While white privilege may impact the opportunities afforded to minorities, Issa Rae is trying her best to provide opportunities to people of color through her HBO series.

For more on Issa Rae, watch the BET Breaks video above.

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.