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Before she became America’s beloved Clair Huxtable, Phylicia Rashad was a young Howard University student with big dreams. ❤️

Born Phylicia Ayers-Allen, she graduated from Howard University in 1970 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree — magna cm laude.

Years before The Cosby Show made her a television icon, Howard helped shape the actress, singer and stage performer who would later make history on Broadway.

And here’s something many people don’t realize: in 2004, Rashad became the first Black woman to win the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play, for her performance as Lena Younger in A Raisin in the Sun.

There’s something special about seeing our legends before the fame — before the awards, before the television roles, when they were simply young Black students preparing for whatever came next.

Howard University has produced generations of Black excellence, and Phylicia Rashad is certainly part of that legacy.

Did you know she graduated from Howard with honors? And what is your favorite Phylicia Rashad role — Clair Huxtable, Ruth Lucas, Lena Younger, or another one?

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