Black Gen X at PWIs: The Experience No One Talks About

In The Know with Tony Reeves · Apr 2, 2026 · 10m

Most people remember A Different World as a celebration of HBCU life.But for Black Gen X students attending predominantly white institutions… it meant something very different. In this episode, I reflect on my experience entering college in the late ’80s—at a time when being a minority on campus wasn’t just about numbers, it was about navigating an environment that wasn’t built with you in mind. We didn’t just go to class. We built community. We created culture. We found ways to belong. And along the way, shows like A Different World became more than entertainment—they became a reflection of…