25 Years Later..... A Different World

I know my parents love me,
Stand behind me come what may.
I know now that I'm ready,
Because I finally heard them say
It's a different world form where you come from.
Here's a chance to make it,
If we focus on our goals.
If you dish it we can take it,
Just remember you've been told
It's a different world form where you come from.
It's a different world form where you come from.


A Different World Theme Song Sung By Aretha Franklin and later Sung By Boyz II Men












Before BET's College Hill franchise premiered showing the lives of African American college students at HBCU's  ( Historically Black College University) fighting and partying. Bill Cosby created " A Different World" a spin-off from The Cosby Show, A Different World essentially the show focused on Denise Huxtable portrayed by actress Lisa Bonet attending her parents alma mater the fictional  Hillman College modeled after Hampton and Howard University but after Lisa Bonet left the show for other ventures and her marriage to then husband Lenny Kravtiz the writers and producers focused more on characters Whitely, Dwayne, Freddie, Ron, Kim, Mr Gaines, the list goes on if you watched the show during its 6 year run or watch the syndicated episodes now.





Why We Loved The Show?  A Different World displayed intelligent African Americans students in a positive light the characters endured real life challenges that many college students deal with on a daily basis. The television show helped inspire many African Americans to attend HBCU's the enrollment at these schools increased during the 6 year run of the show.




The show also made history in 1990 one episode was centered around the topic of HIV/AIDS; it was one of the first network television shows to address the subject. Another notable episode premiered in 1992 called "Love Taps" addressing the issue of domestic violence. The series also depicted  members of BGLO's (Black Greek Letter Organizations) as functional, productive, ambitious students either socializing or seen in the library but also the show included fictional fraternities and sororities such as Kappa Lambda Nu and Alpha Delta Rho. The show launched the careers of Jada Pinkett Smith, Tisha Campbell Martin, Blair Underwood, and countless others. Who could forget those hilarious cat fights between Patti La belle as Dwayne's mother and Diahann Carroll as Whitley's mother?






Toni's Thoughts: I first became exposed the television series at the age of 8 when I would watch re-runs on TBS or Oxygen one of the channels. I remember wanting to attend an HBCU because of the show, their rich history, the notable alumni, and members of my family have attended HBCU's. A Different World was an incredible show and displayed the positive aspects of attending a Black college. I'm almost out of my undergraduate studies and I still regret not attending an a Black college well I guess there is always Graduate School or Law School. We need more shows like this one this is truly what television is missing.



Do you miss A Different World? Would like to see an updated version of the show or something similar?