Thread by @latimes

In 2016, actor and writer Issa Rae decided it was time to tell a different kind of South L.A story, one centered on Black community.

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Fast forward to 2021, and Rae’s vision has become reality.

Over the course of five seasons, #InsecureHBO has made South L.A. events, businesses, landmarks and community central characters in its story.

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“For us, there’s so much credibility and authenticity about shooting where you actually are. There’s nothing that makes me feel happier than when I see people who are from L.A. identify the streets and the locations,” Rae said.

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With regular locations like Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen, Merkato Ethiopian Restaurant and more, “Insecure” quickly became a place to see well-known Black and local businesses in South L.A. rather than typical, touristy staples.

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“The thing that we wanted to do was say, ‘There’s beauty south of the 10.’ But we never see that — it just kind of gets played as a sort of like concrete jungle. But it’s beautiful,” said #InsecureHBO showrunner @The_A_Prentice.

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In addition to combating South L.A.’s association with a cliche sob story, “Insecure” has replaced it with something else: a positive vision of the neighborhood that viewers will hold on to long after the series’ end.

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Read more on how @issarae and other @insecurehbo collaborators set out to portray Los Angeles. latimes.com/entertainment-…