The clapping started before anyone could see her. A buzz moved through the auditorium as students turned in their seats, phones half lifted. Then, the back curtain opened, and Issa Rae stepped out smiling. What followed was not a polite welcome but an eruption of cheers and applause, loud enough to drown out her attempt to greet the crowd.

From 7 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Rae spoke about creativity and fear as the recipient of the Charlotta Bass Media Trailblazer Award. Hosted by USC Charlotta Bass Journalism and Justice Lab founder Allissa V. Richardson, the event drew a wide audience of students, faculty and staff for a conversation tracing Rae’s evolution from online creator to television, film and business leader. 

USC School for Journalism and Communication Dean Willow Bay said the award was a tribute to “courage” and “craft,” honoring those who build new lanes in media and widen them for others.

“Tonight, we recognize a woman whose work makes room for joy and vulnerability, awkwardness and ambition, laughter and truth,” Bay said. “A creator who tells stories about Black life not as spectacle, but as interior, textured and deeply human.”

Rae opened the conversation by tracing her relationship with storytelling back to childhood. She recalled receiving a computer from her parents and feeling immediately drawn to the empty screen. 

“I loved a blank page, seeing a blank page, and the idea of filling it with my own stories just excited me,” Rae said. “I used to love notebooks, specifically that blinking cursor [that] just was like, what can I fill in? What can I put on there?”

She said that sense of freedom later translated into her early work online, where she learned to create with a personal purpose. In her earlier career, she posted short, low-budget comedic videos and web episodes online.

“I’m posting this because I think it’s funny. I am cracking myself up,” Rae said. “Maybe somebody else will find this funny, but I don’t have to care. It’s really for me.”

That mindset resonated strongly with Naomi Ahuchogu, a freshman majoring in public relations and advertising and a content producer at the Bass Lab. Ahuchogu said Rae’s emphasis on following her instincts without external validation stood out the most. 

“The part about her just living in her authenticity and venturing into all her interests, while still maintaining who she is at her core, is really inspiring,” Ahuchogu said. “When you pour all that into your work, there’s no way you won’t be successful.”

As Rae reflected on her rise from web series creator to television writer, actor and producer, she didn’t frame success as a straight line. She spoke openly about moments of restlessness that followed her throughout major career milestones. 

“I was candidly in golden handcuffs,” Rae said. “I have to wait for the green lights. I have to wait for the ‘yeses.’ And as a creative, that could be really frustrating. In the end, I was bursting at the seams to create.”

Samantha Leath, a sophomore majoring in the business of cinematic arts, said Rae’s reflections on process and voice felt especially relevant to her as a student creative. 

“The biggest thing about this is representation. It’s always really hard to find people to actually resonate with because not every one person is the same, but finding people where you actually draw inspiration from their stories is really powerful.” Leath said. “It can actually push you to do a lot of great things.” 

Laila Johnson, a sophomore majoring in business administration, said she felt especially inspired by Rae’s speech on her journey to becoming an authentic and responsible content creator.  

“As someone who’s interested in going into the creative realm and with content creation and kind of building my online persona, I think something that’s really important is trusting yourself and your own vision,” Johnson said. 

Throughout the hour, Rae returned to the idea of instinct, especially when in leadership. She spoke about learning to listen to discomfort in professional relationships. 

“Every time that I’ve ignored that feeling, it’s just not worked out,” Rae said. “Remember you’re the only one who sees through your eyes and thinks the way that you think, and being able to make that your superpower is essential.”

As the event came to a close, Rae accepted the Trailblazer award to another wave of applause. But the loudest reactions throughout the night came during moments when she admitted uncertainty. She spoke about taking on “new tasks, new side quests, new projects,” even when she did not have all the answers. 

Ahuchogu said that felt just as impactful as her accomplishments, a reminder that building a creative life often begins with trusting oneself enough to start.

“[I learned] not to limit myself and to try out as many things as possible, because you never know how far you can get when you are staying authentic and true to yourself,” Ahuchogu said.