In 1991 a 7-year-old girl on Chicago’s South Side had an idea. Inspired by the stories she heard from her grandmother and mother, Lena Waithe decided she wanted to see the lives of herself and her family and neighbors depicted on television.
Moving to Los Angeles in her early twenties, Waithe worked her way up through the television business, eventually winning an Emmy for her writing, creating The Chi, a beloved series loosely based on her own life, and launching her own production company, Hillman Grad.
And despite facing sharp criticism for her distinct creative vision, Waithe remains committed to shaping her legacy her way. …and it all started with one idea.