Film of Prince at 11 Years Old Discovered in Archival Footage From 1970 Mpls. Teachers strike

Zschomler showed us then what is believed to have been a sixth-grade picture of Prince taken in the same school year as the strike. It was a striking video that we compared. It was perfect.

She said, “There’s so many in his mannerisms, his eyes, and everything that it looks just like him.”

We needed someone who knew Prince when he was a child, despite all the evidence. Zschomler linked us to Terrance Jackson.

Jackson stated, “We go back as far as kindergarten at John Hay Elementary north Minneapolis.”

He is a former neighbor and childhood friend of Prince.

Jackson exclaimed, “Oh my god, that’s Kitchen!” as the video started. He immediately recognized Ronnie Kitchen as a teenager. “That’s Prince!” Right? That’s Skipper! Oh my God!”

He was full of laughter. Prince started to speak. Jackson became quiet and said “wow” only a few times. Jackson was able to stop crying and start laughing again by the end of the video.

“I’m like blown away.” He said that he was “totally blown away” as he recalled their childhood memories.

Jackson stated that Jackson was playing the keys and guitar by that time, which Jackson described as “phenomenally”. Music became our sport. He was an athlete, so I was also athletic. But, we both wanted to compete musically.”

Rhoda Jackson, Jackson’s wife, grew up with them. She was unable to contain her laughter when Prince appeared before her eyes, and then she heard him speak like an 11-year old boy.

Rhoda stated, “It’s just incredible to see him, that little, that young, and hear his voice.”

The mystery surrounding one of the most mysterious musicians in music was solved. He was a young boy from a city, and years before he helped put his hometown and its sounds on the map.

Jackson stated, “That’s Prince, also known as Skipper to Northside.”

Zschomler stated that Prince’s childhood in his local school helped him understand the Minneapolis connection. “Even though they are only a brief glimpse into what Minneapolis meant for him, and what he stood for in Minneapolis, it helps to understand the symbiotic relationship he had with his hometown.”