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That was me getting through my anger. This is me getting through
—Jordan on writing[src]

Jordan Bonner is a recurring character in Season 3 of Beverly Hills, 90210. He is portrayed by Michael Rawlins.

Character[]

Jordan is a high school newspaper reporter who co-wrote a story on gang violence with Brandon Walsh following a shooting at a football game. He is level-headed and intelligent, and ends up getting a full scholarship to Yale. He has a brief romance with Andrea Zuckerman, but it never goes anywhere since Andrea decides last minute to forgo Yale and attend California University.

Story[]

Jordan is a senior at Shaw High School in California. In 1992, at the beginning of his senior year, a football match takes place at his school. Two outsiders, gang members, enter the stadium, shoot and kill two students, one of whom was Bose Hinton. Both the students who were killed were Jordan's friends. While in his mourning, he keeps an eye on how officials handle the repercussions, specifically the negative implications racism might have on the future of his school and neighbourhood. Their upcoming game against rich school West Beverly Hills High School is being re-evaluated because of the shooting and the suggestion that the game be played at West Beverly instead of Shaw is floated, due to racist misconceptions that the gang violence somehow has something to do with the Shaw students. Jordan attends the meeting held by the school board and encounters Brandon Walsh. Jordan questions Brandon about the proposals, and, exasperated, Jordan tries to get Brandon to understand the racist implications, as well as how the gang will take over Shaw if they play that game anywhere else.

Brandon doesn't understand, but tries to help by visiting Jordan at Shaw to talk to him about what can be done. Jordan comes up with a plan for them to write two editorials to hold record of the impact on the community at and around Shaw. At first, Jordan’s editorial is rejected by Blaze faculty advisor, Gil Meyers, who says it can’t be printed as it’s angry, raw and attacks Coach Chapman. Brandon goes to bat for Jordan’s right to express himself. Jordan later tells Brandon that it was a first draft, a release of everything he was feeling. His editorial to be printed, however, convey’s his perspective and analysis. Jordan and Brandon hatch a plan that Brandon’s editorial invites the Shaw students to West Beverly’s Pigskin Prom. At the dance, security guards refuse to admit black students from Shaw until Meyers intervenes. Tension abounds at first but Nikki breaks it by asking one of the Shaw students to dance. Jordan and Brandon talk about plans to have a new football game at Shaw.[1]

Jordan is accepted to Yale University and is invited to a ‘Freshman ’93’ mixer, which is tea and crumpets. At the mixer he runs into and surprises Andrea, a fellow future Yalie. Jordan and Andrea bond over not feeling like they fit in with all the rich kids.[2]

Trivia[]

BEHIND THE SCENES
  • Originally, Jordan was only a one-episode character, but the role was extended after shooting on that episode concluded.[3]
    • There were talks of the character continuing into Season 4. However, when Carteris got pregnant and asked for the pregnancy to be written into the show, she was informed that the show didn’t want Jordan Bonner to be the baby’s father.
  • Rawlins auditioned for the part of Robinson Ashe III.[3]
  • Gabrielle Carteris (Andrea Zuckerman) informed attendees at the August 2019 live "...with Brian Austin Green" podcast at Torrance High School, the setting for West Beverly Hills High School, that studio executives put racist constraints on the storylines, eg. Andrea wasn't allowed to touch Jordan, let alone kiss him, when they were dating.[4]

Episodes[]

Home and Away
Parental Guidance Recommended
Dead End
Perfectly Perfect
A Night To Remember
Commencement: Part 1

Notes and references[]

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