Aahana Swrup
The Lifetime romance drama film ‘Mary J. Blige’s Real Love’ is a moving story about a young woman who journeys through life on her own terms. Kendra, a college freshman, has every intention of focusing on her education without letting any distractions set her off her path. Nonetheless, the photography major soon finds out that she needs to listen to her art in order to let her artistry shine. As a result, when the stars align, putting her in the path of the charming Ben Baldwin, she allows herself to freefall. Yet, college life proves to bring infinite complications with it, compelling Kendra to re-think whether or not her whirlwind romance can survive.
Throughout the film, the central setting of Hammon College plays a crucial role in penning Kendra and Ben’s love story. Similarly, when she gets the offer to attend Maddox School of Desing—which will take her away to Chicago—a new path opens up to her, promising professional success. Consequently, these institutions remain vital to Kendra’s narrative. However, do they have any roots in reality?
Hammon College is Not a Real Institution in North Carolina
‘Real Love’ is based on Mary J. Blige’s similarly titled 1992 song and finds some loose inspiration in the singer’s real life. Nonetheless, the bulk of the narrative takes a fictional path, operating on the screenplay that comes from the imagination of writers Rachel Ingram and Sonja Warfield. As such, since a lot of Kendra’s story is fictionalized, many of the elements that make up the world around her are similar works of fabrication. Hammon College is one such example.
In the film, Hammon College is a Historically Black Colleges and University or HBCU, where Kendra finds the chance to figure out her life for herself for the first time. The institution offers new freedoms and opportunities for the young woman, becoming an essential stepping stone in her over-arching story. While colleges have a knack for providing much the same for people in real life, there doesn’t seem to be an educational establishment called Hammon College that upholds the same off-screen.
The closest comparison one can find in real life is perhaps South Carolina’s Hammond School. Yet, the Pre-K to 12 private school is hardly an accurate counterpart. Even so, despite Hammon College’s apparent fictionality, it remains an authentic depiction of higher education. In fact, North Carolina offers a treasure trove of HBCUs, including Fayetteville State University, Bennett College, and more. Consequently, even though Kendra’s college is confined to her fictional world, the experiences and opportunities she gains from the establishment remain a representation of reality.
Maddox School of Design is Work of Fiction
Similar to Hammon College, Maddox School of Design is another fictionalized establishment that only exists in ‘Real Love.’ Narratively, the school offers an incredible new start for Kendra, who has been through multiple complications at Hammon. Even outside of her tumultuous relationship with Ben—which seems to be doomed toward the end—she can use a change of scenery. Furthermore, Maddox provides an incredible route to improve her academic career and open doors for her future in photography.
In real life, Chicago does offer exciting academic opportunities for photography majors. From establishments like the School of the Art Institute of Chicago to Loyola University, there are numerous diverse photography programs for students in the city. Thus, Maddox School of Design, though fictional, isn’t improbable as a concept. Interestingly enough, the audience will be able to find similarly named establishments under Maddox Designs that operate under web design or architecture industries. Nonetheless, it’s unlikely that the on-screen university has any connections to such companies.
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