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A Different World
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The term “blerd” refers to the Black nerd. From anime culture to the infatuation with shows like “Game of Thrones,” the uptick of Black people being involved in and profoundly supporting what is considered “nerd culture” is growing. And because none of this is particularly new, many can pinpoint the fictional character “Dwayne Wayne” of “A Different World” as the 90s blerd of the decade. Kadeem Hardison is the man behind it all. From the flip-up glasses to the fascination with technology, Hardison’s character gave representation to those who may not have seen themselves on screen often. His ability to act out the range of nuances Hardison’s character represents made the opportunity to find a deeper community at an HBCU even more appealing. Another significant facet of “Dwayne Wayne” was his on-screen romance with “Whitely Gilbert,” portrayed by Jasmine Guy. Their love story is often termed as relationship goals, and no matter what you think about them in that regard, their on-air...
Sep 27, 2022
When many people think of Black, fictional couple goals — “Dwayne Wayne” and “Whitley Gilbert” of “A Different World” likely come to mind. Now, there is a monster-sized list of why one can argue how those two are not goals. However, no matter where you land on the side of loving or hating the roller-coaster relationship between Dwayne and Whitley, what made them so iconic was the portrayal by real-life actors Kadeem Hardison and ’90s “it” girl Jasmine Guy. The on-screen love story between the two actors made the allure of attending an HBCU even more appealing to students already locked in on the idea of Black colleges. Hillman University was a fictional place, but “A Different World” made it seem real and brought HBCU culture to the homes of millions each week. And Dwayne and Whitely were at the center of that television magic. While Hardison deserves his flowers for the work he did on the show, Guy brought something unique and special to the character of Whitley that made her the...
Aug 25, 2022