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Source: Jeff Kravitz / Getty / A Different World
Fans of the iconic NBC sitcom A Different World rejoice: the cast is getting back together.
PEOPLE exclusively reports the cast of A Different World will reunite for a national 10-city tour of historically Black colleges and universities to celebrate the sitcom’s 35-year legacy.
The website reveals that cast members Darryl M. Bell (Ronald ‘Ron’ Johnson), Charnele Brown (Kimberly ‘Kim’ Reese), Jasmine Guy (Whitley Marion Gilbert Wayne), Kadeem Hardison (Dwayne Cleophus Wayne), Dawnn Lewis (Jaleesa Vinson Taylor), Cree Summer (Winifred ‘Freddie’ Brooks), Glynn Turman (Col. Bradford ‘Brad’ Taylor) and Sinbad (Walter Oakes) will be participating.
The website also notes that Susan Fales and Debbie Allen, who served as producers on the show, will be a part of the tour.
Darryl M. Bell, who organized the tour, says it’s about celebrating the show’s legacy and raising awareness about HBCUs.
“The cast of A Different World has come together to celebrate our 35-year legacy and make more history with today’s HBCUs and tomorrow’s leaders!” Darryl Bell said to PEOPLE.
He continued, “Our mission goes beyond nostalgia. We’re on a quest to raise awareness and enrollment for HBCUs nationwide. By leveraging the star power and cultural impact of A Different World, we aim to inspire a new generation to choose HBCUs as their academic homes,” the website states. “We’re not just telling a story; we’re rewriting the narrative.”
The tour will begin in Atlanta, Georgia, at Atlanta University Center, home of Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College.
PEOPLE states the whole tour lineup will be revealed soon but notes “Washington, DC (hosted by Howard University) and Montgomery, Alabama (hosted by Alabama State University and Tuskegee University), both in April” are among the stops.
A Different World’s History
A Different World was on air for six seasons, from Sept. 24, 1987, to July 9, 1993. It was a spinoff of The Cosby Show and followed Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet) as she attended the fictional HBCU Virginia, Hillman University.
Bonet left the show after one season, but other big names like Jada Pinkett Smith, Karen Malina White, and more later joined the cast.
You can head here for more information on the A Different World Tour.
You can watch episodes of A Different World streaming on MAX.
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Source: Nimito / Getty
The rise in COVID-19 cases in the state of Georgia has propelled Morris Brown College to reinstitute masking mandates for its students and employees.
According to NewsOne, the HBCU based in Atlanta, Georgia sent out a letter detailing the guidelines for the mandate to faculty members, incoming students, and staff last Friday (August 18). The letter was then released publicly on the school’s Instagram account on Sunday (August 20).
The mandate, which will be in existence for the next two weeks, requires everyone to wear masks. Physical distancing is also reinstated for students, as well as a ban on large gatherings and parties for students for those two weeks. In addition, students are required to undergo temperature checks upon arrival to campus and to take part in contact tracing efforts by the college. The contact tracing and other care and assistance will be provided by the school through its partnership with St. Joseph Mercy Care.
Morris Brown College made the move in response to the rising rate of COVID-19 cases being reported by the Atlanta University Center (AUC), which consists of Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, and Morehouse School of Medicine. Their lead epidemiologist, Kara Garretson, recently released a resource guide for AUC students and employees to follow.
COVID-19 rates in Atlanta have risen since August 5th, according to the data collected by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The rate of hospitalizations rose by 29.5%, with 322 confirmed cases in that time, and while the numbers are lower in comparison to the same time frame last year, there is concern as a new variant has been settling in around the nation. The EG.5 variant has been active for the last couple of months and is believed to be responsible for 17% of cases in the United States thus far.
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Source: FabrikaCr / Getty / Bowie State
Getting into the tech space is difficult, especially if you don’t have the right skin tone. One HBCU, Bowie State, has a cheat code for its students to achieve that goal.
A New York Times report highlights Bowie State and how it is helping Black computing students get their foot in the Silicon Valley door by bypassing its strict vetting process.
Bowie State University, located in Bowie, Maryland, has created an internship placement program that does not require the typical Silicon Vally dog and pony show undergraduates have to deal with, like enduring high-pressure technical assessments. At the same time, an interviewer looks on or hours of studying for a company coding test.
Rose Shumba, the chair of Bowie State’s computer science department, describes it as “a brutal process” when referring to the internship application process at large tech firms, adding, “We see things very differently here at Bowie.”
So How Does The Internship Placement Program Work?
Per the NYT’s piece, Bowie’s computer science department has its own internship placement program, which it set up last year in partnership with numerous companies and government agencies.
The program focuses on “matching students directly with employers seeking interns.” Students in the program also work on their interview skills in training sessions, while workshops will touch on topics like machine learning.
Bowie’s program gives its students an alternative to the massive, impersonal system that would see them throw in an application and hope to be chosen out of tens of thousands of college students submitting their resumes through a portal system that is typically sorted and ranked using resume reading software.
The companies and agencies part of Bowie’s program often come to the campus to meet the students, mentor them, interview and directly recruit them for internships making the process more intimate.
How Successful Is Bowie’s Program?
According to the New York Times, 60 Bowie computing students interned at federal agencies like NASA, companies like Deloitte, and local startups last summer.
The story highlights Dejai Brown, who worked at a Chick-fil-A fast-food restaurant before applying for internships. After getting some encouragement from Dr. Shumba, she applied for security clearance and got an internship at the Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command.
Battelle, a nonprofit technology research company, also recruited Ms. Brown.
Head here to read more about Bowie State doing the lord’s work for Black computing students.
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Photo: FabrikaCr / Getty
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Source: Icon Sportswire / Getty
Look, Florida A&M University’s basketball team might not have had one of its best seasons, which the Rattlers finished with a 7-22 record, but one thing the ballers at FAMU have going for them is a cheerleader who DGAF that she’s hyping up a losing team—she’s still going to talk all the trash and put on for her school.
According to Blavity, the Rattlers cheerleader with the slick tongue who clearly doesn’t care how anyone feels about it is FAMU senior Nailah Clarington, who will be graduating soon, meaning FAMU might be down one diehard sh*t-talker who can rival any Black family sitting around the Sapdes table. (If you can thrive in that environment, you’re an official trash-talk blackbelt to be revered by anyone who wishes to avoid getting roasted beyond recognition.
“Messiah, yo coach says you suck. That was his words. Take him out of the game, Coach,” Clarington can be heard shouting from the sideline. She could also be heard telling the referee they don’t need to let people talk to them any old kind of way—while definitely planning to keep talking to folks any old kind of way.
She also questioned the refs’ calls and shouted, “He’s not a shooter!” at multiple players from the opposing team, who were, apparently, not shooters.
Suffice it to say, the fine folks on Twitter were amused and appreciative of Nailah’s energy.
Clarington clearly won herself a lot of fans—and possibly a career as a sports broadcaster. Steven A. Smith better watch out.
Source: Icon Sportswire / Getty
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Source: Ivan Apfel / Getty
In today’s episode of Earl Stevens Had Us Thinking Rational, West Coast Hip Hop legend E-40 is gifting his alma mater with 100 racks because HBCU music programs matter—and who better to send that message than a music veteran with more than three decades in the game?
According to TMZ, the “Yay Area” rapper donated $100,000 Friday to Grambling State University in order to help the HBCU fund its various music programs and marching band.
E-40, who attended GSU beginning in 1986, told students and faculty at the school that he wanted to let people know there “ain’t nothin’ wrong with being in band,” and he just wanted “to make a contribution” to help his school’s music department—*wait for it*—In a Major Way. (Please don’t delete me, 40 fans.)
But GSU had a little surprise for the Vallejo emcee in return. After E-40 announced the huge contribution he made to the university, the GSU Tigers revealed The Earl “E-40” Stevens Sound Recording studio, which TMZ described as “a commemorative installation to inspire students’ music hustle.”
From TMZ:
He explained growing up in his impoverished Vallejo, CA neighborhood led him to look for an escape and hopped on the first train smokin’ when the Grambling opportunity came — and never looked back but jumped forward into a career of platinum plaques, millions of streams and mounds of classic songs!!!
Thanks to 40, the 122-year-old campus has the chance to produce the best rappers in college!!!Imagine that—rappers reminding the world that Hip-Hop has always been about education, just as much as it is about the culture and community. Much respect to E-40. This is a great look!
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