There is no woman that is quite like Quinta Brunson. Personally, I find her a force to be reckoned with.
I first learned about Brunson when I used to obsess over Buzzfeed videos. Who remembers Buzzfeed? I know I do. There was a period of time in…is it 2014? Maybe 2014 or 2015 when Buzzfeed videos were all the rage. The videos were all over YouTube. The content was actually funny! I enjoyed watching the videos and Brunson was one of my favorite characters.
What I didn’t know was that the whole time Brunson wasn’t just reading lines off of a script. She was also writing and producing the scenes she was in.
When she left Buzzfeed in 2018, I was very sad to see her go and thought she would be like other creators. Gone and forgotten.
But I was proven wrong!
She voiced characters in the show Lazur Wolf and on Netflix’s Big Mouth.
In 2021, I began hearing and seeing of something called Abbott Elementary that starred Brunson.
I was excited! I haven’t kept up with her throughout the years. But she doesn’t just star in it. Brunson is the writer and the executive producer. What is there that this woman can’t do?
I’ve watched the show from the very beginning. From the first season and the finale to the agonizing months in between when I had to wait for the second season. I’ll tell you she is absolutely amazing.
Abbott Elementary gives such a breath of fresh air to the television world.
It’s like The Office but not really. Yes, there is a camera following the characters around, and yes they do talk to the camera too.
But, that’s where the similarities end.
With Abbott Elementary, there is a focus on the characters’ lives without going too deep into their personal lives.
Everyone has their own issues. Brunson plays Janine, one of the teachers. Janine’s personality is hardworking, never giving up and always determined to do things on her own no matter what. But eventually, Janine learns that her hyper-independence can sometimes backfire. She learns that it’s okay to ask for help, and that’s okay to struggle and fail. All of that is normal.
The characters of Abbott Elementary are very well developed. They have personalities; they have depth. They have their own backstories and personal issues. Each of the characters is very different from the others.
There’s Greg: The awkward substitute teacher who wanted to be a principal.
Ava: The actual principal, who is very hilarious, but rarely does her job or takes anything seriously.
Melissa: She has a dark sense of humor and a deep sense of loyalty.
Barbara: A God-fearing woman that takes her job seriously.
Jacob: He’s awkward too but in a different way.
Mr. Johnson: He’s the funniest janitor I’ve ever seen.
In the show, my favorite characters are Ava and Mr. Johnson. They are too funny.
But anyways back to the real star of the show that is Brunson.
In 2022, she was named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People. That’s amazing!
I love her for making black women feel seen and heard.
She represents black excellence for sure.