Several Black celebrities had normal jobs before they hit stardom, showing that success can come at any point in life. Taraji P. Henson worked at the Pentagon with a security clearance, while Wanda Sykes worked for NASA with top-secret clearance. Nicki Minaj had various jobs including serving at Red Lobster and selling fire extinguishers. Denzel Washington was a garbageman, and Kerry Washington was a substitute teacher. Morgan Freeman repaired automatic radars in the Air Force, and Ava Duvernay was a film publicist before becoming a director.
Other celebrities with normal jobs before fame include Janelle James, a food delivery driver, William Stanford Davis, a radio DJ, and Natasha Rothwell, a high school teacher. Samuel L. Jackson worked as a social worker, Angela Bassett was a photo researcher, and Oprah Winfrey started as a local newscaster. Craig Robinson taught music to students in Indiana.
These stories serve as a reminder that success does not always happen overnight, and hard work in unexpected places can lead to extraordinary careers. Celebrate Black History Month by exploring more Black-centered content and continue to support Black culture year-round.
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