It started as a spin-off series from the popular Cosby Show, but A Different World soon became a force of its own, representing young black culture in a realistic way little seen on TV till then.

The show originally focused on Denise Huxtable, one of the Cosby kids played by Lisa Bonet, who chose to attend her parents’ alma mater, historically black Hillman College, after graduating from high school. Denise joined several supporting characters in Hillman’s dorms, like math nerd Dwayne Wayne and haughty debutant Whitley Gilbert. After the first season, Lisa Bonet left the show and consequently Denise dropped out of Hillman, so the series focused more on Dwayne, Whitley and other characters. At this time, actress/director/producer Debbie Allen assumed the reigns of A Different World, introducing plot lines about important social issues of the day.

After Allen’s revamping of the show, Dwayne and Whitley acquired well-rounded personalities, elevating them from supporting cast to main characters. A few of the white students present during the first season were phased out and replaced by black actors. The series dealt with topics that concerned college students in general—like date rape and sexual harassment—and also explored issues important to the black community, like the slave trade and racial identity.

A Different World was one of the top rated shows during its third and fourth seasons among black and white viewers. It went into syndication after it was canceled in 1993 and continues to be one of the most popular and groundbreaking series.