Why does my screen black out then the screen powers on and the bottom icons light up but nothing else?

[Shannon Baxter]

blacked out screen powers on and the bottom icons light up but nothing else

I was recently given a Verizon HTC One, however the screen has some small minor cracks in it, the screen is blacked out, bottom icons light up for home, menu, return, and search but nothing shows on the screen. could this be due to the screen being cracked?