Photographed by [Ian Morrison](https://www.instagram.com/imorrison/?hl=en).
The Lauren Iungerich-created series, which documents four South Los Angeles teenagers’ journey through the exciting, explorative, and oft-excruciating high school years, snaps an honest, heartfelt, and even humorous picture through a much-needed underrepresented lens. Characters Monsé Finnie, Cesar Diaz, Ruby Martinez Jr, Jamal Turner, and Jasmine Flores return for the third season to fanfare. Flaunt wonders what it means to work on a series that’s actively advocating less-amplified voices and diversity.
**Why do you think _On My Block_ was received as well as it was?**
I think it was the mix of our chemistry as a cast, the timing of the show, and also the fact that the show is short, so I think you start seeing season one and you’re like, ‘These kids are funny!’ but the next thing you know, Ruby gets shot. I thought I was in for some cute coming-of-age story, but it really shows what happens in real life and what my friendships in high school were like.
**With such a diverse community in front and behind the camera, what does it mean to be a part of this show actively advocating diversity?**
This could have never been the case before. Hopefully the people who are not people of color are going, ‘wow!’ And hopefully people that look like us on the show are telling themselves that they can tell stories like this.
[Brett Gray](https://www.instagram.com/iambrettgray/?hl=en) wears [GENTLE MONSTER](https://www.gentlemonster.com/) glasses and [FAITH CONNEXION](https://faithconnexion.com/) top.
Photographed by [Ian Morrison](https://www.instagram.com/imorrison/?hl=en).
**How do you resonate with your own character?**
I grew up watching _The Fresh Prince of Bel Air_ and some of Eddie Murphy’s stuff. I always saw this as a different version of what it means to be a black male comedian. It was sort of nice to have my stamp today with kids.
**Season 2 got very dark. What can you tell me about Season 3?**
You’re definitely going to laugh more; Season 3 is shorter, so it gave us the right amount of time to come back in and get you ready!
Photographed by [Ian Morrison](https://www.instagram.com/imorrison/?hl=en).
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See the other profiles on the cast of _On My Block_: [Jessica Marie Garcia](https://www.flaunt.com/content/jessica-marie-garcia-on-my-block), [Sierra Capri](https://www.flaunt.com/content/sierra-capri-on-my-block), [Jason Genao](https://www.flaunt.com/content/jason-genao-on-my-block), and [Diego Tinoco](https://www.flaunt.com/content/diego-tinoco-on-my-block),
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Flaunt Film Directed by: [Daniel Mayúgba](https://www.instagram.com/danny.mov/) & [Ryan Kevin](https://www.instagram.com/ryankevin/)
Director of Photography: [Isaiah Shinn](https://www.instagram.com/isaiahshinn/)
Camera: [Martin Gradek](https://www.instagram.com/citizen_xeno/)
Sound & Editing: [Timothy Huang](https://www.instagram.com/timo4041/)
Sound Assistant: [Sarah Peretz](https://www.instagram.com/sarah_peretz/)
