For almost four decades, A Different World has held a special place in TV history. The groundbreaking sitcom, a spin-off of The Cosby Show that ran from 1987 to 1993, was set at a historically Black college (Hbcu) and starred a majority-Black cast who portrayed a group of students navigating college life. “We represented all these different facets of young Black life that we had never seen before,” Cree Summer, who played Freddie Brooks, told TODAYlast year.

Now, nearly 38 years after its premiere, A Different World still has a multigenerational impact on viewers of all ages. The series — which is now streaming on Netflix in the US — portrays themes of self-discovery in young adulthood and highlights the importance of friendship, while also grappling with sociopolitical issues with awareness and care.

Whether A Different World holds a special place in your heart, or if you’re a viewer experiencing...