"Grown-ish" Actor Trevor Jackson on How the Show Mirrors Real Life
Grown-ish, the new Freeform show centered on Yara Shahidi's Black-ish character, Zoey Johnson, is set primarily on the (fictional) college campus of California University. So it's only fitting that the actors playing Cal U's students have picked up a thing or two as well.
"James Baldwin," Trevor Jackson tells Teen Vogue about some of what he's learned during his turn playing sophomore Aaron Jackson. "I don’t know everything about him, but I know a lot more [than I did] just from playing the role." It's a fitting response, given that Aaron heads up the Black Student Union and sees college as a way to inspire those around him to civic action. "Sometimes [Aaron is] a little overbearing but definitely has the right idea," Trevor adds with a laugh.
As the actor explains it, his character "takes pride in his culture and who he is and all the amazing things they’ve done. He sticks up for his rights and fights for what he believes in." That, he says, has seeped into his own life. "I’m definitely inspired and definitely want to learn more about people that have come before me."
It's a sentiment that echoes a number of the themes in Grown-ish — including the idea that nobody has everything figured out at all times and that there's always more to learn. But in at least one respect, Trevor has a pretty solid footing in his character: He made his first appearances as Aaron in episodes of Black-ish that saw Zoey at college orientation and later at the Johnsons' home. Before joining the extended universe that creator Kenya Barris has helmed, Trevor was a big fan of Black-ish. "I think the writing is incredible; obviously, the actors [are, too]," he says. "I’m even more excited to be a part of Grown-ish because I was a fan [of Black-ish]."
His love for the Black-ish cast extends to his Grown-ish costars as well. "I actually worked with Chloe and Halle [Bailey] . . . about five or six years ago," he says of his costars, who play twin track stars Sky and Jazz. "This was my first time meeting Luka [Sabbat] and Jordan [Buhat]." He adds that everyone is the cast is "amazing. I think that’s why [the show] was cast this way — because it’s giving everybody their own voice. There’s someone on the show you can relate to regardless of who you are or where you’re at. It’s inspiring and gives you a different view."
As for Zoey and Aaron, Trevor is a bit more coy about how their flirtationship might play out. "He and Zoey kind of have an ongoing connection, I guess you could say," he hints. "But they are great friends." It's their up-in-the-air connection that lends to some of the most relatable moments in the show; already we've seen Zoey stress her way through texting Aaron late at night and sweating over what a "U up?" text means. (Hint: It doesn't mean what she thinks it means, and the ensuing fallout doesn't end that well for either of them.)
Trevor says that is Grown-ish's great skill, "to talk about real topics that are tackled [in real life], especially in this age range." He also notes that the issues the show tackles go beyond dating; like Black-ish before it, the show will focus on issues that reflect the lives of those watching it. "One that I really relate to and something that I wish could change is how wrapped up we are in our phones," Trevor says. "One of the episodes really tackles that."
"We tackle everything," he stresses. "I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s definitely going to be groundbreaking." It seems that, in some respects, Grown-ish already has a lot of things figured out.
Additional reporting by Ariana Marsh.
Production: Kiori Georgiadis at Hinoki Group.
Related: Yara Shahidi’s New Show Grown-ish Is Getting Honest About College Life
