If Dr. Bill Cosby’s greatest contribution to the Black community was his creation of The Cosby Show, then the spin-off to the popular 1980s television sitcom about a fictitious historically Black college in Virginia named Hillman almost certainly comes in close behind.
Even as the 79-year-old actor and comedian faces mounting legal challenges, few — both Black and White — can deny the longevity and incredible success of his television creations, in terms of reshaping and redefining the lived experiences of Black people in America.
And while The Cosby Show has been yanked from syndication amid the ongoing allegations that Cosby sexually assaulted dozens of women dating back to the 1960s, A Different World — which launched on NBC almost 30 years ago — continues to be popular, even among current high school and college-age students who were born long after the show ended.
“My desire to have the Black college experience and attend an HBCU has definitely been shaped by A Different World,” says Khadijah Wells, 17, a high school senior who lives in Philadelphia and watches reruns of episodes on channel TV One nearly every day. “My mom and I still laugh at the same jokes. It’s a show that I think really helps to bridge the generations. It shows the positive side of Black life and I think that’s very important right now.”
As Wells begins the process of applying to colleges this fall, she’s already made up her mind that she only wants to attend an HBCU. Spelman College, Claflin, Howard and Hampton universities are all on her list.
Impact of show
Wells’ admiration for the sitcom that ran from 1987 to 1993 and brought fame to its cast members such as Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison and Darryl Bell is hardly surprising to Dr. Walter Kimbrough, president of Dillard University, a Black college in New Orleans.
