Ain’t That A VHIT
By Von C. Howard
Some shows you watch. Others shape you.
A Different World did both. It gave us one of our first real glimpses into life at an HBCU, where Black excellence, growth, struggle, and purpose all lived in the same space. It wasn’t just entertainment; it was a vision. It showed us that college wasn’t just possible, it was ours.
As the theme song reminded us, “I know my parents love me… stand behind me, come what may,” grounding us in the importance of family and foundation as we stepped into new chapters of life.
That vision became real for me in the summer of 1997 when I arrived at Florida A&M University. Though I was nervous, being away from home for the first time, I quickly found myself at home on The Highest of Seven Hills. From 1997 to 2002, I didn’t just attend FAMU… I lived what A Different World had been preparing me for.
It was a place for everybody. For those who walked across the stage Magna or Summa Cum Laude, and for those who fought through challenges and still made it by the grace of God, earning that degree designation: “Thank Ya Lawdy.” No matter the path, the destination meant something.
It was also where family was built. Some found lifelong partners, while others created bonds through “play cousins” and friendships that became real family. And no matter how much time passes, every reconnection brings that feeling…
Homecoming.
Those experiences shaped me, late-night conversations, professors who poured into you, and moments that challenged you to grow. That wasn’t television anymore. That was life.
Today, I carry that same spirit forward.
I share it with my children, my nieces and nephews, and the young people I mentor, or even those I simply connect with for the culture. I’m not just telling them about college; I’m sharing what it feels like to be in a space that affirms who you are.
Because too many of our young people haven’t seen that vision.
They see highlights, but not the depth. They don’t always see that HBCUs are more than institutions; they are environments that build confidence, culture, and community.
And in this day and age, that truth matters even more.
HBCUs continue to stand as pillars of access, opportunity, and cultural identity at a time when they are facing unprecedented, and at times unfair, political and systemic pressures. Challenges around funding, policy decisions, and shifting educational priorities make it critical that we not only remember their value but actively protect and sustain them. These institutions have always done more with less, yet continue to produce leaders, innovators, and changemakers who shape our communities and our country.
So, we must reintroduce and uphold that “Different World.”
Parents, have the conversation.
Students, look deeper.
Alumni, tell your stories, invest, and stay connected.
Because as the song reminds us, “It’s a different world from where you come from,” and for many of us, it became exactly where we found ourselves.
This is more than a memory.
It is a world our ancestors built and a place where dreams and realities are made.
