Hollywood is fascinated with the success stories of those who come from famous families. However, for Black actors who are born into fame, the path is often not so clear-cut. These actors not only have to meet the expectations set for them, but also have to establish their own identities and, at the same time, show respect to their families. This requires a lot of talent, resilience, and vision. Here are the names of five influential Black actors who became successful after their parents.
5. O’Shea Jackson Jr.
O’Shea Jackson Jr. was thrown into the deep end with high expectations being the son of Ice Cube, but he decided to confront them without hesitation. Playing his father in the movie Straight Outta Compton was his way of making a grand entrance into the industry, and he definitely showed that he had the skills.
As a matter of fact, he has been in a number of films like Godzilla: King of the Monsters and the TV show Swagger, and in addition to that, he has been in the movie Ingrid Goes West, where he demonstrates his acting abilities. O’Shea is a perfect example of someone who doesn’t have to hide behind his father’s shadow just because he comes from that background.
4. Zoë Kravitz
Zoë Kravitz is the daughter of rock legend Lenny Kravitz and the talented actress Lisa Bonet. She has developed a career that is totally different from that of her parents. She has been in many movies and TV shows like Mad Max: Fury Road, Big Little Lies, and also Catwoman in The Batman, thus proving that she is a versatile actress and has the potential to become a star.
At the beginning of her career, she thought of changing her name so that people wouldn’t know who her parents were. Zoë believes that her mother had an important role in shielding her from the outside world and her father, who made her a humble person; these two together keep her firmly on the ground while she is in Hollywood on her own terms.
3. Rashida Jones
Rashida Jones is the daughter of Quincy Jones and Peggy Lipton and has a wealthy, creative background. Nevertheless, she has never been dependent on her parents’ fame. She has been a successful actress in the series Parks and Recreation and has also been a producer of the Grammy-winning documentary, Quincy, besides writing.
Moreover, she has a degree from Harvard, and that is proof that a person can be both smart and artistic at the same time. Rashida views her father’s ability to understand people’s inner truth and turn it into art as his greatest talent and one that she is trying to master in her own profession.
2. John David Washington
Denzel Washington’s son, John David, deliberately stayed away from Hollywood for a while as he chose a career in professional football. Later, he came back to acting and has been successful in his role in movies such as BlacKkKlansman, Tenet, and Malcolm & Marie.
He regards his dad as the person who taught him to give priority to art and be real rather than seek fame, and his work is a reflection of that, as he is a perfect blend of legacy and self-governance.
1. Tracee Ellis Ross
Tracee Ellis Ross, the daughter of Diana Ross, is the most prominent. Tracee is most recognized for her role, which won her a Golden Globe in the TV series Black-ish, where she made her own identity while still acknowledging her mother’s legacy. As a child, she saw her mother work hard to have a successful career, be a pioneer in the industry, and at the same time be a good mom.
Tracee has made it clear that she is not her mother’s clone, but instead she has used her legacy as a stepping stone to succeed in the same field she was launched, rather than facing the limitation of being in the shadow of her mother. In addition to comedy, she has done roles in movies and music-centered films like The High Note.
Talking of nepotism in Hollywood, particularly in the Black community, is quite a sensitive subject. There is an opinion that you should start from the bottom and work your way up to earn your place. Nevertheless, these actors are making the point that the opportunities that come as a result of the family can also be a way of moving forward. By becoming the people they really are, they show that having a famous family is not something you lean on – it is a base, and the next generation is changing the way people see success.