Oprah Winfrey is More Than a TV Host

Oprah Winfrey

This inspiring woman was born January 29th in the year of 1954.  Oprah Gail Winfrey came out of Kosciusko, Mississippi.  Vernita Lee her mother and her father a soldier named their child Orpah from a biblical figure.  However, a clerk misspelled her name and the parents stuck with it.  Oprah was raised by her grandparents whom were pig farmers Hattie Mae Bullock and Earless Lee.  Vernita had left to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to work as a maid.  Oprah's mother had more children while she was there.  Patricia and Jeffery.

Oprah was a bright child and skipped several grades in elementary school.  Loneliness had become apart of her life again so her outlet became performing and public speaking.  Traumatic events had then took place.  Oprah shared a bed with her fourteen year old cousin who sexually molested her.  Sexually abused by her brother's father as well.  Oprah began running away, stealing from her mother and became sexually promiscuous.  Vernita sent her to live with Vernon and Zelma Winfrey in Nashville, Tennessee and soon after she gave birth to a son whom died.  

In Nashville, Oprah began turning around.  Continuing to excel in school, elected senior class president in high school, and got a part-time job reading the news at WVOL a local radio station.  During her college career at Tennessee State University she worked at WTVF-TV in Nashville.  Before completing college Oprah left Tennessee for an anchoring the evening news for WJZ-TV, Baltimore's ABC affiliate.  Oprah Winfrey was sent to a voice coach and salon, where she lost her hair.  Soon doing a talk show called "People Are Talking."  In 1983 Oprah was hired to host the A.M Chicago at WLS-TV.  This particular show was re-launched as "The Oprah Show"  in 1985 as well as starring in "The Color Purple."  The Alices Walker's novel arned both Oscar and Global nominations.  Then placed in charge of her own public relations.  In 1986 Winfrey was interviewed by Mike Wallace in 60 minutes.  In 1987 her cameo appearance was in "Throw Momma from the Train."  Oprah Winfrey formed Harpo productions in 1986 and acquired ownership of the Oprah Winfrey Show.  The name Harpo came from Oprah spelled backwards.  Needless to say Oprah Winfrey paved the way to "women's programming," celebrity brand-naming, reality home, and how to TV.  Notable Black figures were celebrated and placed on equal footing with white stars.  

 

In 1993 Bill Clinton signed a law "Oprah's Bill." There are many of ideas she brought to life such as The Oprah Winfrey Foundation, The Oprah Winfrey Scholars Program, Oprah's angel Network, Use Your Life Award, Christmas Kindness South Africa, Oprah's Book Club, Oprah Online, Oxygen Media Incorporated, O, The Oprah Magazine, and Granite Broadcasting.  In 2003, Winfrey was the world's richest entertainer after Steven Spielberg.  Oprah Winfrey has been named the first African American woman billionaire.