4 Reasons Abbott Elementary Appreciates Overlooked Black Women

How Quinta Brunson is Changing The Education Reform Conversation (Mild Spoilers Ahead)

Robin A Henderson
6 min readMar 18, 2022
The cast of ABC’s new sitcom. Quinta Brunson, Janelle James, Tyler James Williams, Lisa Ann Walter, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Chris Perfetti. The cast is inside an elementary classroom with a chalkboard in the back. They’re sitting on small desks.
Image By | ABC Studios

Abbott Elementary is my latest must-watch obsession, but not for the reasons you may think.

This breakout mockumentary-style comedy is the brainchild of Quinta Brunson.

She creates, writes, produces, and stars in this exceptional new series about life in a Philadelphia public elementary school.

Brunson portrays Janine, an inexperienced second-grade teacher who finds heart and purpose in the classroom. She’s supported by an outstanding cast whose skills complement her quirky, perky, loveable personality.

The ragtag crew approaches each day as a whimsical adventure to help the students and themselves survive and thrive.

This audacious comedy with absorbing commentary about our flawed public education system is an unexpected pop culture phenomenon.

Abbott is the breakout hit everyone can’t stop talking about.

The freshmen series has received universal critical and audience acclaim with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score.

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Robin A Henderson

I write about inclusive storytelling in Hollywood and diverse representation in wellness.