Before our favorite Black icons were trendsetters and trailblazers, they were young people with talent and potential. From a young James Earl Jones — who overcame a stutter — to LeBron James dominating high school basketball courts in Ohio, these throwback photos show that influence and stardom don’t happen overnight. And with the monetary and global success they’ve achieved today, skimming through humble beginnings offers a rare glimpse into the moments that shaped them.
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Let’s take a journey to the past with 13 of our most iconic celebs and entertainers, all of whom would go on to inspire the world.
Laurence Fishburne
Laurence Fishburne was just 14 years old during the production of the 1976 war/action film “Apocalypse Now,” per Entertainment Weekly. Even at a young age, he was already showcasing the talent that would make him a Hollywood legend.
Tina Turner
Before her reign as the “Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll,” she was just Anna Mae Bullock, singing as a teenager in St. Louis clubs. She joined Ike Turner’s band in 1956 and by 1960 released her breakout hit “A Fool in Love,” per Britannica.
Prince
A young Prince is pictured here, far before his beloved “Purple Rain” era, when the artist was busy shredding the guitar on the Minneapolis scene, per OPB.
Oprah Winfrey
Before her magazine, legendary talk shows and OWN channel, Oprah honed her skills as a teenager in Tennessee, working in local radio and television, per Britannica.
Beyoncé, Girls Tyme
Before becoming a global icon, Beyoncé was a Houston teen training relentlessly with Girls Tyme — the same group that would eventually become Destiny’s Child, per Walk of Fame.
Denzel Washington
In 1985, Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington was about 31 years old, starring as Dr. Philip Chandler on the NBC drama “St. Elsewhere,” per IMDb. Washington had also become a father to his newborn son, John David Washington.
James Earl Jones
Before becoming one of the most iconic voices in Hollywood, James Earl Jones was a shy Michigan teen who struggled with a severe stutter, per the Stuttering Foundation. After the encouragement of a high school theater coach, Jones found his voice, and a stellar career in entertainment.
Janet Jackson
1985 was a pivotal year for a young Janet Jackson, as the star annulled her marriage to DeBarge, fired her dad as a manager, and was introduced to legendary producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis ahead of her hit album, “Control,” per Red Bull Music.
Sidney Poitier
Before becoming the first Black man to win an Academy Award for Best Actor, Sidney Poitier was a determined teen who left the Bahamas for Miami in 1943, then moved to New York City a year later to pursue theater at 16, per Museum of the Moving Image.
Lisa Bonet
Before she became known on “A Different World,” actress Lisa Bonet grew up in California, and attended Birmingham High School before studying acting at the Celluloid Actor’s Studio, per Biography.
Venus & Serena Williams
Before the athlete sisters became Olympic superstars, Venus and Serena Williams learned tennis on public courts in Compton per NPR, under the guidance of their father and then-coach, Richard Williams.
Angela Bassett
Before becoming an Oscar-winning powerhouse for “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” Angela Bassett was a Yale-trained actor steadily building her career, and earned her Masters in Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama in 1983, per Yale News.
LeBron James
Before becoming one of the greatest athletes of all time, LeBron James was a high-school phenom in Akron, Ohio, dazzling crowds at St. Vincent–St. Mary High School as a star athlete.
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