This 12th day of Black History Month, I’m shining the spotlight on What’s Happening!! and What’s Happening Now!! — two series that did something absolutely radical: They let Black people be funny, awkward, ambitious, stubborn, tender, and regular… on national television. No constant trauma soundtrack. No “very special episode” energy every week. No forced message wrapped in shame. Just life. And when Black folks are allowed to be fully human on screen, that is history too.

Today on Tony Tips Tuesdays™, we’re talking about what it really means to write with cultural authenticity—why it matters, how to do it responsibly, and how to avoid turning lived experiences into stereotypes or scenery. And because today marks the 10th day of Black History Month, we’ll also spotlight a Black literary giant whose work remains a masterclass in writing culture truthfully, unapologetically, and on its own terms.

On this fifth day of Black History Month, there’s no more fitting subject than A Different World — a series that did far more than spin off from another hit sitcom. It shifted conversations in Black households. It reframed what “college” looked like on TV. It normalized Black intellect, Black community, Black debate, Black love, Black discipline, and Black joy — all inside the same half-hour.

Born in the pages of 1970s comics during the Blaxploitation era, Luke Cage's journey from prisoner to protector reshaped what a superhero could be—an everyday man who rose above injustice to become an icon. Today, we dive deep into his history, legacy, and lasting impact on comics and culture.

there’s no better time to spotlight a rising icon whose intelligence, representation, and creativity light the way for a new generation:🚀