A Different World: Dwayne and Whitley's Graduation was not based on reality

Hillman College made an impression

Now that A Different World can be seen on Max (Formerly HBO) I have watched each episode of the 6 seasons about the students at the fictional Hillman College many times over during the past year. Hillman was supposed to be located somewhere between Richmond and Hampton Roads Virginia and Debbie Allen was brought on in season 2 so that the series would have more of the look and feel of an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities).

During an interview, Kadeem Hardison (Dwayne Wayne) stated that there were African Americans who actually believed Hillman College was a real institution of higher learning and were asking how to enroll. A number of young adults still say they were inspired to attend college because of A Different World. Hillman was actually based on Hampton University and Spellman University which are both HBCU's.

College art did not imitate College Life

Something that I caught in hindsight while watching today is the lack of authenticity in To Be Continued the 25th episode of season four. This is graduation day for Dwayne and Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy) but it does not resemble any graduation I have attended. Dwayne is the valedictorian but no one from his family or Whitley's relatives is shown sharing the special day with them. The only kinfolk on hand is Ron Johnson's (Darryl M Bell) dad who is portrayed by Art Evans.

Whitley should have graduated the previous season but she remained a 5th year at Hillman in order to earn extra credit. Ron had to remain an additional year because he did not take European History and both situations mirror real college life but graduation day did not. This also allowed for the cast toremain on the sitcom.

Where was the family support?

Ron's sister Rachel Johnson (Senait Ashenafi) had visited Hillman earlier in the season and was considering attending the school. Neither she nor Ron's mom (who has never been seen) showed up to support him on his big day even though he really did not graduate. Once the ceremony is over Dwayne, Whitley, and Ron do not go out to celebrate with loved ones but returned to The Pit the school hangout center, and Mr. Vernon Gaines (Lou Myers) the proprietor holds a dance for the graduates.

I understand this was televised entertainment but had to wonder what Ms. Allen and her team of writers were thinking. I don't know of any college, HBCU or otherwise where graduating seniors return to the campus to celebrate with underclassmen. The Hillman grads should have been out with other graduating seniors if they were not going to spend time with family or friends.

Dwayne lived in the La Granade Apartments with Ron while Whitley lived across the hall with Jaleesa Vensen ( Dawnn Lewis) so their returning home is within reason but the after-graduation scene should have at least shown Dwayne and Whitley's parents even if only one of each returning to the Pit with them for a few moments to make it seem more real.

Did the parents attend the ceremony and leave?

One could infer that perhaps Adelle Wayne (Patty Labelle) and or Woodson Wayne (Harold Sylvester) attended the ceremony and left before the graduates returned to the Pit. The same could be said about Marian Gilbert (Patty Labelle) and Mercer Gilbert (Ron O'Neal), but neither Dwayne nor Whitley even mentioned having any family support on this day.

There is also the fact that Ron's mother did not accompany her husband on the big day which would have been a nice surprise. Watching this episode again it seemed so unreal that only Mr. Gaines was celebrating the graduates. Debbie Allen graduated from Hampton University and used some of her personal experiences in the series but she probably did not spend the afternoon of her graduation in the school cafeteria/hang out.