A Brief Retrospective of HBCUs On Screen Black History Month: A Celebration of Black Cinema and TV Shows

The inception of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs, dates back to the 1800s. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1837 making it the nation’s first HBCU. From then 101 colleges and universities centered around giving Black people access to education and opportunities have been established and I was fortunate enough to attend one, Delaware State University, during my undergrad years.

Many elements influenced my decision to attend Del State and one of those influences came after watching how HBCUs were depicted on screen. My first taste of the illustrious world was watching A Different World. Created by Bill Cosby and serving as a spin-off of The Cosby Show (1984-1992), A Different World ran from 1987-1993 and followed a group of students while attending the fictional historical Black university Hillman College. Everyone who is a fan of the show knows it didn’t really gain pop culture traction until its second season when Debbie Allen came on as on a producer to make the show more authentic to the HBCU experience.

Kadeem Hardison and Darryl M. Bell in ‘A Different World.’ Photo: NBC

Characters like Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison), Ron Johnson (Darryl M. Bell), Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy), Kim Reese (Charnele Brown), and Freddie Brooks (Cree Summer) became TV icons for Black boys and girls who dreamed of attending a HBCU and mimicking what they saw on screen. A Different World remains one of my favorite sitcoms because not only did it display the multi-faceted layers of Black people, but it touched on real-life issues in a way that didn’t come off as condescending. Some episodes talked about colorism, the riots in LA after the Rodney King verdict, racial profiling, and the AIDS epidemic, but there were lighthearted moments about exams, pledging sororities, and holiday-themed centered episodes that made the show so damn great.

“School Daze” still. Photo: Columbia Pictures

A year after A Different World premiered, Spike Lee’s “School Daze” was released in 1988. The film focused on a niche aspect of the HBCU experience and that’s the fraternity and sorority world. In the film Darrell aka Half Pint, played by Spike Lee, desperately wants to be a member of the popular fraternity Gamma Phi Gamma while his cousin Dap (Laurence Fishburne) is viciously opposed to the idea and the concept of the organization entirely. Giancarlo Esposito, Tisha Campbell, and Kyme played crucial roles in “School Daze,” one of a handful of Black-led musicals. The music in the film is outstanding but one song in particular, “Straight & Nappy,” touched on the continued juxtaposition of light and dark-skinned Black women and is a standout moment in the film that pushes so many important messages.

Nick Cannon in “Drumline.” Photo: Twentieth Century Fox

Fast forward to 2002 and I was still in high school fueling my HBCU dream with “Drumline.” Nick Cannon starred in the film as Devon Miles, a skilled drummer who gets recruited to Atlanta’s A&T University to play in the school’s band. “Drumline” also focused on a niche HBCU experience and this time it was band culture. Although I don’t know how to play an instrument and I’m not a dancer, this movie made me wish I knew how to do any of those things. There were other subplots to “Drumline” that showed the heart of the film, but if we’re keeping it 100 the band aspects of the film were the best parts. Hearing a marching band play now immediately transports me to my college campus. It’s a dynamic that could never be duplicated, but Beyoncé’s Netflix “Homecoming” film that chronicles her 2018 Coachella performance is a close match.

“Stomp the Yard” still. Photo: Screen Gems

Finally, I want to highlight the 2007 film “Stomp the Yard.” It was a special experience watching a movie set at a Black college while attending one. I remember my freshman year my school rented out a theater for us to watch “Stomp the Yard.” In the film DJ (Columbus Short) moves to Georgia following the death of his brother (Chris Brown). While working his way through his education at Truth University, DJ joins a fraternity that leads to an ultimate step competition. Like “School Daze” this film had the element of a fraternity but focused slightly on the pledging part and more of the work that goes into stepping.

I’m forever proud to be an alumnus of a HBCU and thankful for the contributions cinema and series played into influencing my decision to attend one. Nothing can compare to that feeling a HBCU gives, but you can get an idea whenever you see them depicted on screen.

Which HBCU moments stand out to you the most on screen? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Photo: Twentieth Century Fox