TrueStar Staff 
From “Dear White People,” to “Grown-ish,” to “All-American Homecoming,” college dramas have been a center of the young-adult TV scene for years. But, the world was still searching. Searching for the return of something special. Representation that they didn’t even know they needed.
“A Different World,” the reboot, takes audiences back to Hillman College, the fictional HBCU that generations grew to love back in 1987. The new show centers around Deborah Wayne (Maleah Joi Moon), the youngest child of the iconic Whitley Gilbert-Wayne (Jasmine Guy) and Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison), as she starts her freshman year. Following the ups and downs of HBCU life, audiences get a first-person view into the culture, community, and social relevance surrounding Historically Black Institutions. Now charting at spot number one on Netflix, the show sparks more than entertainment. It sparks a conversation on black excellence, black tradition, and the modern HBCU world.
The show’s recent release brought a new sense of representation to light. Representation of today’s HBCU students. The bridge of black collegiate culture from homecoming celebrations to dorm pageantry, to conversations on immigration status and black institutional bomb threats place the HBCU pride and HBCU problems of today on a pedestal. It provides a space for audiences of all natures to see reflections of themselves, and reflections of others, creating more than a space of fun. But a space of visibility.
The show also brings awareness to difficult topics circulating modern-media such as reduced federal funding towards student scholarships. Topics others may be afraid to touch, “A Different World” approached with grace, humility, and an overwhelming sense of dignity.
As an HBCU student, who has just begun her journey at Howard University, “A Different World” has proven to be a pure representation of the HBCU experience. One that the community can be proud of, and one that the culture can continue to pour into. The number one spot is secured. And it is so well deserved.
“A Different World” has been reshaping the world for almost 40 years. And now, it is time for the next generation to continue the legacy. And we cannot wait for season two!
Avery Kelley, Freshman, Howard University
