With all the chatter following the release of DC’s “Superman” film, it’s time we take a look at the real origin stories of our Black celebrities. From Don King’s unbelievable life of crime to Stevie Wonder as a child prodigy, these Black musicians, athletes and politicians have some of the best come ups in history.
Suggested Reading
Don King
Before he became one of the richest boxing promoters in history, Don King lived a life of crime. From a young age, he would sell pies to make money for his family. By age 23, he would be charged for the 1954 shooting death of Hillary Brown after he tried to rob King. The charges wouldn’t stick, however, as a judge determined the killing was justifiable. But 12 years later, King would find himself in a similar situation. That’s when he beat another man, Sam Garrett, to death over a $600 debt. He was sentenced for manslaughter and was released four years later, according to historyoffighting.com. When he got out, he would meet Muhammad Ali, kickstarting his career as a promoter.
Beyoncé
In a home video filmed by their Dad, young Beyoncé and her baby sister are playing in front of their large house. Dad, who is filming his girls, warns his oldest daughter to stop bothering the bees, but of course, the future Queen Bee and her sister remain untouched by them. Raised in Houston, Beyoncé Knowles was shy child. It wasn’t until her teacher noticed her singing talent that she would be pushed into stardom. Knowles would soon perform in her mother’s hair salon for guests. And from then, her parents quickly noticed her star factor, prompting them to invest in her full time. She went from performing at talents shows to joining a girls’ group called Girl’s Tyme in 1990, including Kelly Rowland and LaTavia Roberson– who would both become original members of Destiny’s Child. Girl’s Tyme entered the Star Search competition in 1993, but they lost the show. After that, Girl’s Tyme evolved into Destiny’s Child and Knowles became the group’s lead singer.
Tupac
Before he was born, Tupac Shakur’s life full of political rebellion and activism was written in the stars. His mother, Afeni Shakur, was a political activist and Black Panther Party member, who was arrested in 1969. She was acquitted after defending herself in court while pregnant with her son. He was born Lesane Parish Crooks, but his name was changed at age one after his mom determined, “I wanted him to have the name of revolutionary, indigenous people in the world. I wanted him to know he was part of a world culture and not just from a neighborhood.” She worked as a paralegal until she became addicted to crack cocaine, causing the family’s financial issues. They eventually landed in Baltimore, Md. where Shakur would meet Jada Pinkett-Smith in acting class. He would later move to California, kickstarting his hip-hop career.
SZA
Believe it or not, SZA– real name Solána Imani Rowe– didn’t have an interest in singing. She said her focus was gymnastics and dance. Another hobby of the New Jersey native was poetry, sharing the passion with her older sister. It wasn’t until Rowe began sharing her poetry with friends that they encouraged her to test out her vocals for real. Rowe soon began writing music and singing for artists, including Nicki Minaj and Rihanna. She got her big break in 2016 after being featured on the intro track on Rih’s “ANTI” album. After gaining some traction, Rowe dropped her highly acclaimed album “Ctrl” in 2017, boasting her into mainstream success.
Jimi Hendrix
Originally born Johnny Allen Hendrix, his name was changed to James Marshall Hendrix by his dad, also named James. Hendrix was some what of a child prodigy, teaching himself how to read music after falling in love with the art form. His father noticed Hendrix really took a liking to the guitar, so one day, he bought a second-hand guitar from a friend for $5, his website says. From there, Hendrix joined a band called The Velvetones then The Rocking Kings. His musical career was put on hold after he enlisted in the Army. But after being honorably discharged due to an injury, Hendrix returned to the States and began playing for acts including Tina Turner, Sam Cooke, the Isley Brothers and Little Richard. Soon, he found his footing and went completely solo.
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey had a rough childhood. Born in rural Mississippi, Winfrey was repeatedly abused. This would happen when her mother, a teenager and working maid, would be off at work. Winfrey eventually tried to run away from home, but she landed in a detention home until she was turned back because they were at capacity, the Kennedy Center said. At only 14 years old, Winfrey was left homeless until she found her father in Nashville, who provided a strong home environment. He pushed her, and she soon found her voice. At 17, Winfrey won a beauty contest, a job with a Black radio station and a scholarship to Tennessee State University. It was at that historically Black university that she majored in Speech Communications and Performing Arts, setting the stepping stones for her to become one of the greatest interviewers and daytime television hosts of all time.
LeBron James
From a young age, LeBron James knew he would be his family’s ticket to fame and riches. But what many don’t know is instead of becoming one of the greatest NBA players of all time, James could’ve been an NFL star. In high school, James played basketball and football. In his junior year at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Ohio, he had 57 catches for 1,160 yards and 16 touchdowns, according to Sporting News. With his size, speed and attention to detail, many schools began recruiting him for football. In the end, James followed his passion for basketball and threw his name in the NBA draft. He was picked overall no. 1 by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003.
Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson was born in Washington, D.C. but raised in Tennessee. He always had an interest in film, spending a lot of his childhood at local theaters, despite them being segregated for Black audiences. At the same time, Jackson became hyper aware of his place as a Black man and decided to attend Morehouse College, and HBCU in Atlanta. Everything was going well for him… that is until 1969, when Jackson participated in a protest which resulted in him and other students kidnapping the father of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. To be expected, when the protest was over, Jackson was kicked out of school. But he returned in 1972 and got his degree in acting.
Kamala Harris
Former Vice President Kamala Harris was raised by parents who understood the value in education and activism. Her parents married in 1963 after meeting at the University of California, Berkeley, although they split when she was just seven years old, leaving her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, to raise her and her sister, Maya, largely by herself. Harris decided she would attended Howard University, which she said sparked her interest in politics, according to The Dig. At Howard, she also joined the debate team and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. She participated in protests and became an active voice against injustice. This eventually led her to get her law degree at the University of California. From there, she jumped into a position as District Attorney and eventually Attorney General in California. After that, she won a Senate seat, which led her to ultimately run for president in 2020 then again in 2024.
Damola Adamolekun
Before he became the CEO of Red Lobster, Damola Adamolekun secured a reputation as an elite businessman. His parents are professionals, working as a neurologist and pharmacist. The Nigerian-born, Zimbabwe and Maryland-raised scholar was always interested in business, he said. “It captivated me intellectually. I started working when I was in high school and invested everything I made. I opened my first stock portfolio when I was 16, and really got into investing,” Adamolekun recalled. He attended Brown University and after graduation, he worked on Wall Street in New York City. He became the CEO of restaurant chain, P.F. Chang’s at age 30. Now, he’s doing his best to bring Red Lobster out of financial ruin.
Nicki Minaj
Before coming to New York at age 5, Onika Tanya Maraj lived in Trinidad and Tobago with an abusive father, who once burned down the family home trying to kill her mother. “I’ve always had this female-empowerment thing in the back of my mind,” Maraj told Details magazine. “Because I wanted my mother to be stronger, and she couldn’t be. I thought, ‘If I’m successful, I can change her life.’” She penned her first rap at 12 years old but fell in love with acting in high school. After a failed acting career, Maraj shifted gears, working local jobs. But she kept writing raps and eventually caught the eye of Lil Wayne, who signed her to Young Money Records.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Born Michael King Jr., his name was changed to Martin Luther to honor the Christian leader of the same name. King got into a lot of trouble growing up, even once jumping out of the second-story window from his family home. His first job was as a paper boy for the Atlanta Journal, according to the King Institute. At age 13, King became the youngest assistant manager of the news publication. Eventually, he attended Morehouse College and begin life as a pastor, following in his father’s footsteps. But it wasn’t until the Civil Rights Movement needed a leader that King would be tapped to become the face of the moment.
Stacey Abrams
Before Abrams was born in 1973, her parents were active participates in the Civil Rights Movement, which probably sparked Abrams’ innate passion for activism and service. Her family moved to Atlanta so her parents could attend Emory University, but one experience at her high school graduation would change her life forever. In 1991, Abrams became valedictorian of her school. Her parents traveled by bus to the governor’s mansion for a formal event but were told to leave by a guard at the gate. The matter was rectified, but it stuck with the then-teenager. “I don’t remember meeting the governor of Georgia or my fellow valedictorians… All I remember that day was a man at a gate, telling me I don’t belong.” From then on, Abrams decided no one would ever tell her where she didn’t belong.
Jackie Robinson
A young Jackie Robinson always excelled at sports. After moving from Georgia to California, Robinson attended the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), becoming the university’s first four-sport letter winner for football, basketball, track and field and baseball, according to the Jackie Robinson Museum. After college, Robinson served in the military until he was honorably discharged for refusing to move to the back of a segregated bus. He soon joined the Kansas City Monarchs in baseball’s Negro Leagues. But later that year Branch Rickey, the general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, invited Robinson to become the first Black player. In 1947, Robinson debuted, breaking the color barrier.
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Judkins was born six weeks early, with an eye disorder called retinopathy of prematurity. The issue was only made worse due to too much oxygen exposure, which permanently blinded him. His family moved to Detroit when he was just four years old, and that’s when Judkins began taking interest in music. He joined the church choir and soon took on the harmonica, piano and drums, all self taught before age 10. At age 11, he was discovered by Motown Records and renamed Little Stevie Wonder.
Straight From 
Sign up for our free daily newsletter.
