Oprah Winfrey

Who is Oprah Winfrey?

Through the power of media, Oprah Winfrey has created an unparalleled connection with people around the world. As supervising producer and host of the top-rated, award-winning The Oprah Winfrey Show, she has entertained, enlightened and uplifted millions of viewers for the past two decades. Her accomplishments as a global media leader and philanthropist have established her as one of the most respected and admired public figures today.

http://www.oprah.com/pressroom/Oprah-Winfreys-Official-Biography#ixzz1eJHKz0I4

Background Information

• Oprah was born in Kosciusko Mississippi on January 29th, 1954

• Her mother was Vernita Lee, who made a living and supported her children by being a house made in Milwaukee Tennessee

• Her father was Vernon Winfrey who remarried and lived in Nashville Tennessee working as a barber and businessman

• Oprah has 2 half sisters from her mothers side, but no full brothers or sisters

Hardships

• Oprah initially lived with her Grandmother Hattie Mae but at 6 she moved to Milwaukee to live with her mother

• While being babysat, her 19 year old cousin sexually abused her, but she was given ice cream as a bribe to keep quiet

Hardship and Resiliency• While under her mothers care Oprah was also

sexually abuse by a family member- her uncle, and further from a family friend.

• Oprah began to skip school, steal money from her mother, and run away

• Eventually Oprah showed independence by creating a healthy distance between the situation and decided to move to Nashville to live with her father

Hardship and Resiliency

• At 14, Oprah found out she was pregnant and hid the pregnancy up to the 7th month

• When she broke the news to her father she ended up giving birth a few hours later to a baby boy who died 2 weeks later

• At 16 she read the book “Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou, over and over, giving her insight as Oprah quotes “I have never before read a book that validated my own existence.”

• Oprah decides to focus more on her interest of reading and speaking. In 1970 she won the Elk’s Club Speaking Competition

Hardships and Resiliency

• Oprah’s dedication to school and determination to focus on her talents ends up getting her a 4 year College scholarship

• Later in 1971 she moves to Baltimore to begin her TV debut in the TV chat show “People Are Talking”

• Soon she had her own show in Chicago titled “A.M. Chicago”

• Ratings were so good she soon found herself with her own production company “Harpo Studios”, and the “Oprah Winfrey Show” in 1986

• To this day Oprah believes it was her relationships that got her where she is today

• In particular, she thanks her father for keeping the standards high, and her grandmother for showing her strength and a sense of reasoning

• “For everyone of us that succeeds, it's because there's somebody there to show you the way out.”