(ThyBlackMan.com) In thinking about how I wanted to approach this column, on this subject, I am reminded of what one of my good friends recently told me over dinner.
King Solomon told me in Proverbs 14:12: “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
The reboot of the iconic TV show from the nineties, A Different World, reminds me of this scripture.
Beloved actor, director, and writer, Debbie Allen is the executive producer; and she added Felicia Pride to be the writer and producer.
I have no idea who Pride is, but from her writing credits I know why.
I am very disappointed in the reboot and especially of Allen. She is legendary for producing very thoughtful, substantive shows. Shows that make you think.
The reboot is my worst fears coming true.
The original A Different World followed students at Hillman College, a fictional historically Black university, navigating academic life, friendships, and campus challenges. Known for its authentic portrayal of Black college culture, it addressed social and political issues seldom seen on mainstream TV. Praised for strong performances, cultural impact, and thoughtful writing, it remains a significant hit in syndication.
One of the most iconic, memorable episodes from the original is by far the “If I Should Die Before I Wake” episode. It is the twenty-third episode of A Different World’s fourth season which was first broadcast on April 11, 1991.
Challenged by a speech-class assignment Josie (played by Tisha Campbell) reveals that she is HIV-positive, prompting her fellow students to re-examine everything they thought they knew about AIDS.
This episode explored the issue of AIDS from angles that were very evocative, powerful, loving, and yet real. Everything that the reboot is not!
I am sure you can find this episode on the internet.
In the reboot’s first episode, Kadeem Hardison’s character Dwayne, goes off into this anti-Trump rant without mentioning Trump by name. “…This is a watershed moment. This country that we [referring to Blacks] built is trying to erase our Black history, our gains, our culture. They [he never tells us who they are] want to demoralize us. They want to deport us [American citizens cannot be deported] , they want to jail [only if you commit a crime] us, they want to shoot us down in the streets [this is not happening]. But you, you all are their greatest threat [how]. You, future leaders who care about justice and community and each other. I know you will stand up. I know you will fight, build and you will change the world. Now let’s get to it.”
I knew I was in trouble at this point. I literally had my finger on the off button to turn the TV off; but forced myself to continue watching.
This diatribe is straight out of the liberal playbook. This emotional rant is like the tinkling cymbal or the sounding brass; full of sound and fury signifying nothing.
I watched three and a half episodes before I had to shut it down. I refuse to watch another episode of the reboot, EVER!!!
During the fourth episode all of a sudden out of nowhere you are thrust into a scene of two males being naked in bed together.
ENOUGH!!!
Not on my TV. I was disgusted and extremely disappointed in Debbie Allen for putting this on the air. There are so many needed and necessary storylines that should and need to be addressed on the reboot, but homosexuality is not one.
Allen is a known liberal, but I never viewed her as part of the extreme radical elite liberal part of the Black community. Felicia Pride is definitely part of this fringe element within the Black community.
As to be expected, the homosexual community is high fiving all over the place.
According to Pride, “…This is the world we live in…That’s how I approach storytelling. It’s from a truth perspective. Queer people are all around us, and they need to be a part of our storytelling. So it was a no-brainer for us.”
Maleah Joi Moon, who plays Deborah Wayne, stated, “…We have fully embodied queer characters on this show so that everybody can feel represented…And I feel like that is something that we kinda toss to the wind a lot. But there is safety, and there is preciousness in representing people, and I think that’s a huge pillar of our show…”
This is why I am encouraging my followers to not watch this liberal garbage.
Renee Harrison’s character, Candace, was asked by one of her classmates how she juggled all of her responsibilities on campus. Her response was repulsive, “…I have an unapologetic commitment to being that bitch…”
Really?
So now Debbie Allen is promoting the rachet notion that a Black girl at a prestigious Black university thinks of herself as a bitch. Really? You put that on TV?
Where are the conservative voices on the show? HBCUs were founded on the best traditions of the Black church, yet this founding principle is totally ignored in the reboot.
In the original show, there were real, honest debates from left to right on various topical issues of the day.
In the reboot, there is enough cleavage on this show to supply milk to the whole continent of Africa for years. This never happened on the original show.
Bill Cosby, the creator of the original show, would never have allowed that to happen. There are a couple of reasons why this type of buffoonery never happened on the Cosby Show or A Different World.
Cosby had a PhD in education; and second, he hired famed Black psychiatrist, Alvin Poussaint as a media consultant on scrips and storylines for both shows.
It seems like Allen hired Snoop Dog as her consultant!
Then when I did a little digging around and talked with some of my Hollywood friends about the reboot, the reason for the shows radical extreme liberal foolishness became crystal clear.
Pride, along with Allen’s blessings stated the obvious, “…We had an all-Black writers room: seven writers plus myself, plus our support staff. About half of the room went to HBCUs, a lot of D9 [Divine Nine sorority and fraternity] representation…We had an all-Black directing team that were all women and queer.”
As with most Black liberals, the goal of the show is not to produce great content for a great show, but to push a radical liberal extreme ideology upon the Black community.
Cosby and Poussaint would never have allowed the reboot to prostitute the integrity of the original show.
And let me say for the record, of all the work I have done with high profile people, I am most proud of my work with Bill and Camille Cosby during some of their most trying times of their lives. And to see firsthand the number of prominent Blacks who turned their backs on them was disgusting, but I digress!!!
And to Jasmine Guy. She is one of the sweetest, nicest people you will ever meet and know. I will go through hell and back for her. Nuf said!!!
Once again, Blacks have failed the Claudette Covin test.
Colvin was the Rosa Parks before Rosa Parks. She could not become the face of the civil rights movement because she was a fifteen-year-old unmarried girl who was pregnant.
In other words, the Black community and its leaders enforced a standard within the Black community. Not binding by force of law but binding by community standards that were self-imposed.
Blacks had to wait almost a year before Rosa Parks came along.
What is the Colvin test?
The Colvin test is when one has all the right skill set and background but is the wrong person for the mission at hand. Legally, Colvin’s arrest for refusing to give up her seat had the same fact pattern as Rosa Parks’ case.
Debbie Allen and Felecia Pride are definitely not the right persons for the mission at hand, thus they failed the Colvin test.
The garbage they have put out with their reboot is a different world from where I come from!
Staff Writer; Raynard Jackson
RJ is a Pulitzer Award nominated columnist and President & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC, a Washington, DC based global public affairs consultancy. Feel free to visit his website at: www.raynardjackson.com. You can follow Raynard on Twitter @ RealRaynardJ or Gettr @ RaynardJackson.
