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The ABC comedy Abbott Elementary rightfully earns praise for not only its humor but also its diversity. Quinta Brunson created and stars on the show with Tyler James Williams, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Janelle James. Chris Perfetti plays a gay teacher on the show, also. But all of this is ancillary, Brunson said. She didn’t develop the show with an eye towards diversity. 

Abbott elementary staff sits in the library, but Quinta Brunson wasn't thinking about diversity
L-R: Lisa Anne Walter, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Janelle James, Chris Perfetti, William Stanford Davis, Quinta Brunson, and Tyler James Williams | ABC/Christopher Willard

Brunson was a guest on EW’s The Awardist podcast on June 13. While discussing the diversity and inclusion on Abbott Elementary, Brunson explained how it happened by accident, and that’s the way it should be. ABC renewed Abbott Elementary for season 2, coming this fall. 

Quinta Brunson just made ‘Abbott Elementary’ authentic 

Abbott Elementary takes place in a Philadelphia public school. So Brunson just conceived of an authentic elementary school, and the diversity was part and parcel to that world. There are Black and White teachers, like Perfetti and Lisa Ann Walter. There are both Black and White kids and families too.

“I will say in creating Abbott, weirdly my goal was not like diversity,” Brunson said on The Awardist. “It was just these are the people that make up Abbott Elementary. These are the people who work at that school. At this school is a predominantly Black teaching group and a predominantly Black student body population.”

The difference between ‘Abbott Elementary’ and forced diversity

Brunson pointed out how sometimes diversity efforts ring false even though the intentions were good. Just adding a Black character to an otherwise White show isn’t true diversity, nor is randomly adding a gay character to a heteronormative one. 

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“Ultimately I feel that is the key to more diversity in television is not just sticking characters into a White world, but actually green-lighting the stories that naturally bring those people to the forefront,” Brunson said. “We weren’t worried about diversity at all while we were making the show. We were worried about being funny. And that’s because we didn’t have to do the task of sticking people in to fulfill some quota. We already brought everything that’s being looked for so hard to the table.”

The future of diversity on television 

Since Abbott Elementary was a hit, that shows Brunson’s instincts work. She hopes future shows follow her example. 

“It just goes to show if more stories like this or shows like this are brought to the forefront and greenlit, we won’t even have to have those corny discussions anymore about where’s the diversity in this thing?” Brunson said. “Honestly, you don’t stick me in Mrs. Maisel. I’d rather see a show that’s about our people.”

Until shows like that become more common, Brunson is happy people respond to Abbott Elementary.

“It feels wonderful that people are feeling represented in this show, whether that be through queer representation, Black Americans or educators too, minority groups feeling seen in this show,” Brunson said. 

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