The Cultural Impact of 'A Different World'

The streaming wars will always be considered an interesting period in history. Shows come and go, and some are never heard from again.

For those who have HBO Max, you might have noticed that one show, which has been on the platform for some time, disappeared last year. That show was…

A Different World.

For those who don’t know, A Different World is probably my favorite show of all time — or at the very least, it’s in the top 3, promoted to the level of “background noise,” i.e., if I can’t find anything to watch, I’ll just throw on ‘A Different World’ for some entertainment or inspo if I’m working.

Almost 40 years after its premiere, it’s still a highly sought-after show, and that’s because its impact can be felt across so many different parts of culture. And with Netflix (finally) bringing it back to streaming, it only felt right to remind people of how important it is.

Let’s talk about it.

IT CHANGED ACADEMIA

A Different World premiered in the late 80s, and in terms of representation, there wasn’t much in the way of young Black people making their mark on the world.

It also showed a side of Black culture that many of us, especially those who grew up with family members who graduated from HBCUs, had seen up close and personal.

Conversely, for those who’d never been exposed to HBCU culture, A Different World was a catalyst that sparked their interest in that world.

In fact, A Different World led to an increase in HBCU enrollment.

According to CNN, there was a nearly 26% jump in HBCU enrollment between 1976 and 1994.

But the interesting part of that?

Most enrollment increases occurred from ’87 to ‘94, which coincidentally is the same time that A Different World was on TV.

IT TACKLED GLOBAL ISSUES

ADW was ahead of its time in many ways, especially in terms of the subject matter it covered. Ironically, this led to network heads becoming fearful and eventually canceling the show (at its height, no less), but many fans appreciated their careful and tactful conversations about classism, racism, the AIDS epidemic, HBCUs vs. PWIs, and more.

At a time when network TV and sitcoms were reticent to discuss issues like the Rodney King riots, ADW offered a perspective from an audience that otherwise wouldn’t have been seen on TV.

https://youtu.be/XBIvXtS5RDg

Moreover, A Different World was the first network tv show to address the AIDS epidemic.

In fact, according to Debbie Allen (showrunner), the AIDS episode was so controversial that advertisers requested to see the script beforehand and even pulled their commercials before the episode aired.

They were afraid, and it cost them because that episode, which featured Whoopi Goldberg and Tisha Campbell, became the highest-rated episode of A Different World that year.

https://youtu.be/4jPioNDU7V4

IT INTRO’D NEW PORTRAYALS OF BLACK PEOPLE IN MEDIA

It goes without saying that Black people are not a monolith, but the media would have you believe that to be the case. Black characters (to this very day) generally have to fit in neat stereotypical boxes for primetime TV. You know the boxes.

The sassy Black woman. The angry Black woman. The menacing-yet gentle giant of a Black man. Granny (or Madea) who’s the pillar of the whole family. The young guy who’s gifted but won’t get out the streets. etc.

What made A Different World so impactful was that it broke the norms of representation for Black characters in media.

Dwayne Wayne, played by Kadeem Hardison, was the epitome of cool; a subversion of the stereotype of what a successful Black man could look like on TV, and as a result, his character became canonized in Black Culture. Legendary Jordan appearances across a few seasons, just saying.

Whitley Gilbert, played by Jasmine Guy, was class & style personified. She showed a side of young Black wealth that had yet to be seen on screen. As Andscape says, she was the original Bad & Boujee, and by the end of the series she transformed from sheltered and elitist, to down-to-earth.

Freddie Brooks, played by Cree Summers (who you may know as the voice actor behind Susie Carmichael on Rugrats)was carefree, whimsical, and another archetype of a Black woman that the media traditionally didn’t represent. To this day, Cree still gets shouted out on social media for her work as Freddie Brooks (and rightfully so).

Characters like Jaleesa (Dawnn Jewel Lewis) showed what it was like to be a single mom starting college later in life, while Kim (Karen Charnele Brown) showed the pressures that come trying to achieve at the highest level.

Denise (Lisa Bonet) was floating through life, without a direction or care; Ron (Darryl M. Bell) partied until the very last year and paid the consequences — the Black characters on the show were far from monolithic.

GEN Z NOSTALGIA

With its syndication on cable and streaming, A Different World has taken on a new life with an entirely new generation of college students. A generation who is already knee-deep in the nostalgia of 90s/2000s culture aesthetically, and discovering the cultural artifacts that go with the vibes they’re emulating.

As a result, A Different World’s cast has gone on college tours to the AUC, Howard, etc., to talk to the next generation. They’ve even visited the White House to discuss the importance of HBCUs.

Moreover, Hillman College apparel has taken off — with several licensed (and unlicensed) sellers giving a taste of nostalgia to 20-somethings (and 30/40/50 somethings) everywhere.

The hype is definitely real and warranted.

Below are still shots of the ADW cast visiting Howard University & Spelman College, where they were met with with much adoration (if only they had dropped by the AUC 10 years ago; but I digress).

HIP-HOP MUSIC

A Different World’s impact also extended into Hip-hop in a multitude of ways.

Heavy D, and teen duo Kris Kross were featured on episodes, and Pac gave an iconic performance before passing.

As the years progressed everyone from Jadakiss to Pete Rock has had a Dwayne Wayne or A Different World bar in their music. And the list goes on. These are just a few standout in culture:

“Dude lock yo’ self in a room doing five beats a day for 3 summers/ That’s a different world like Cree Summers” – Ye

“A different world so I wear glasses like Dwayne Wayne” – Gucci Mane

“I was on the plane with Dwayne / You can call me Whitley, I go to Hillman” – Nicke Minaj

EPILOGUE

A Different World’s impact has spanned more than 3 decades, and with its recent resurgence, it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.

There are also whispers of a sequel happening on Netflix (and I seriously hope they don’t botch it).

If anyone who worked on it reads this newsletter, Ima need y’all to make a box set, so I don’t have to rely on streaming services; Licensing deals be damned, that’s what the culture’s feeling *Kendrick Lamar voice*

One.