Editor’s word: The next article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the creator’s personal. Learn extra opinions on theGrio.
I’m a fan of the entire reboot, or in some circumstances reimagining, period of tv — particularly in relation to Black reveals. I really like “Bel-Air,” the reimagining of “The Recent Prince of Bel-Air” and can’t anticipate the third season premiere on Aug. 15. I liked “Boomerang,” the BET present that served as a sequel to the 1992 romantic comedy movie “Boomerang” that adopted the post-college lives of the daughter of Marcus and Angela Graham (who clearly bought married) and son of Jacqueline Broyer. “Boomerang” (the collection) solely had two seasons, however it was fairly good tv whereas it lasted.
In that very same vein, we just lately bought information {that a} sequel to “A Completely different World” is in growth at Netflix. The present reportedly will observe the daughter of Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert-Wayne throughout her time at Hillman Faculty, her mother and father’ alma mater. I don’t find out about you, however I’m beside myself with pleasure on the prospects. The present is spearheaded by Felicia Pleasure, who’s a author/producer/filmmaker who has labored on reveals the group is aware of and loves like “Queen Sugar, “Bel-Air” and “Gray’s Anatomy.” I hope the present makes it to the opposite aspect and onto our tv screens. Please enable me to share 5 explanation why.
1. Who hasn’t questioned concerning the lives of Dwayne and Whitley since they left Hillman and moved to Tokyo?
One of many saddest elements of any collection coming to an finish is that we don’t get any extra of their story. Through the years, we turned invested and fell in love with the characters on “A Completely different World.” When Dwayne yelled out “Child please!!!” all of us felt his ache. After which they moved to Tokyo and nicely, life moved on. How cool would it not be to search out out what that life appeared like for them? Is Dwayne an government at Kineshewa? Is Whitley an artwork purchaser? So many questions. If they’ve a daughter at Hillman Faculty, this certainly isn’t the kid Whitley was pregnant with when the present concluded, until the the brand new present will happen within the early 2010s. Possibly Dwayne and Whitley had a bunch of youngsters and that is the infant. You see, simply the concept of who this child may be and when this present takes place is enjoyable to consider.
2. How enjoyable would it not be to see an HBCU setting in a collection that we’re all aware of?
So many motion pictures have created iconic traditionally Black faculties and universities on display. There’s Mission Faculty in “College Daze,” Atlanta A&T College in “Drumline,” amongst others, however Hillman Faculty from “A Completely different World” stands out above all of them. We spent years on the campus someplace in Virginia that appeared rather a lot like Spelman Faculty in Atlanta with the coed physique make-up of Howard College or Hampton College. Both means, getting an opportunity to see Hillman Faculty in no matter years this present is about has me interested by what it appears to be like like now. Will they use the identical facade? Inquiring minds want to know. Is “The Pit” nonetheless there or has it been upgraded to now embrace chain eating places like so many faculty cafeterias have these days?
Leisure
3. I’m actually to see what sort of child Dwayne and Whitley have.
Will she be a brilliant good math genius like her father or dripped out within the hottest fashions like her mom? Will she be like her mother and father had been on campus, in style and well-known or is her demeanor extra laid again and Hillman helps her blossom? How does being the child of Dwayne and Whitley affect her time there? Are they well-known alumni who donate to the college? When the unique collection began, Denise Huxtable moved into Gilbert Corridor, which was named (if reminiscence serves) after a relative of Whitley. Is there now a Wayne Library? How does going again “house” to a spot the place you’re household are legends affect your school expertise? We bought a few of that with Whitley, however it might be much more vital with this latest Hillman Faculty scholar.
4. I ponder who from the outdated days will nonetheless be round Hillman Faculty.
I’d be shocked if not one of the former forged members present up or are nonetheless round Hillman, perhaps as professors. Possibly Freddie Brooks (or perhaps Johnson) is a professor at Hillman Regulation College and/or perhaps someone we all know and love is the president of the college. The thought train alone is enjoyable. Or perhaps we get to know a complete new crew of oldsters.
5. Hillman Faculty might be launched to a brand new era of individuals.
The perfect half about what may come to be is that Hillman Faculty might be reintroduced to Black popular culture. For therefore many people who had been adults or got here of age within the late ’80s and early ’90s, Hillman Faculty is a big a part of the popular culture expertise. Whereas it was a fictional college, it was actual in our hearts, and I do know that sounds sappy. It’s additionally true. I really like the concept of Hillman Faculty being necessary to this present era; the memes and TikToks might be out of this world. I’m right here for all of it.
Panama Jackson is a columnist at theGrio and host of the award-winning podcast, “Expensive Tradition” on theGrio Black Podcast Community. He writes very Black issues, drinks very brown liquors, and is fairly fly for a lightweight man. His largest accomplishment up to now coincides together with his Blackest accomplishment up to now in that he obtained a cellphone name from Oprah Winfrey after she learn certainly one of his items (largest) however he didn’t reply the cellphone as a result of the caller ID mentioned “Unknown” (Blackest).
