In 2020, I was a doe‑eyed, curious 13‑year‑old girl on Chicago’s South Side. Standing in the eye of a global pandemic storm filled with isolation, masks, social media pressures, and a modern‑day fight for social justice, I quietly searched for something to watch where I could see myself reflected and escape from the shattering world around me, a platform of visibility without even realizing it.
And then, I found Hillman College.
A Different World soon became more than a 30‑minute sitcom. It became a sanctuary for me, and for the generations who came before. It inspired thousands of Black students, including my father, to pursue higher education, and amplified the often‑silenced voices of Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the country. From the bonds of our favorite Hillman girls to the ups and downs of Whitley and Dwayne’s romantic journey, I learned about the power of sisterhood and love, all while being captivated by the show’s endearing culture and community.
Now, six years later, that girl is a freshman film and television major at Howard University. And the show that reshaped my life, and history as we know it, is making its return to our TV screens. I returned to its halls, this time for a special screening of A Different World—premiering on Netflix—making this a full-circle moment.
Like the show, the event was nothing short of a cultural phenomenon. The series was filmed on location at the AUC, the meeting point of three HBCUs, so it was only right for the premiere to take place right back where it all started: Morehouse College.
The show’s premiere event, held inside the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, kicked off the institution’s annual Human Rights Film Festival, bringing filmmakers and students together for conversations and industry‑focused programming exploring some of society’s most pressing human rights issues. And of course, HBCU culture remained prominent at the event’s core.
The screening featured live performances, starting with the AUC’s drumline and majorette dancers, performing a rendition of the original A Different World theme song. Soon after, members of several historically Black fraternities and sororities strolled, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated, Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Incorporated, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated.
Continuing to give flowers to the show’s groundbreaking past while also shining a light on the new ensemblé, appearances at the premiere ranged from Jasmine Guy, who portrayed the striking Whitley Gilbert in the original series, to Maleah Joi Moon, introduced as Deborah Gilbert, Whitley and Dwayne’s third and youngest child, who is beginning to pave her own way at her parents’ alma mater.
And then, the legend, my biggest inspiration and my favorite director of all time (yes, I am her biggest!), Debbie Allen took the stage.
“This took a lot of courage,” she said, reflecting on her experience bringing the new world of Hillman to life. “Thank you for handing me this diamond in the rough to reign in with creative consciousness and relevance.” Throughout her speech, she also uplifted creator and showrunner Felicia Pride, who reignited the A Different World flame.
In its origin, A Different World addressed several societal issues, from colorism to domestic violence, sparking critical conversations that transcended generations and continue to resonate. From what I witnessed, the show still reflects the situations and experiences Black college students face today, with a dose of humor and heart.
A Different World taught me how to find my own voice and inspired me, as a creative, to represent the underrepresented. It also showed me and thousands of others that our stories are far from monolithic, yet deeply multifaceted.
The return of A Different World signifies the power of hope: hope for representation, hope for the future of HBCUs, and hope for the next generation. A Different World changed my life, leading me to my love of film, my HBCU, and to a world of promise.
As one chapter closes, another legacy begins… The story of Hillman is far from over.
A Different World premieres September 24 on Netflix.