Oprah Winfrey Research Paper

Oprah Winfrey is a very important public figure today. She was conceived in the provincial town of Kosciusko, Mississippi, on January 29, 1954. Winfrey is popularly known for hosting her own show, “The Oprah Winfrey Show” from 1986 to 2011. From there she launched her own television network OWN. Although, Winfrey is now one of the famous and richest African Americans, she did have a rough start in her young age.

Oprah Winfrey was raise in a very bad economically town in the city of Milwaukee, Mississippi. Shortly, after being born her mother abandoned her, so she was raised by her grandmother. Her grandmother was very religious, therefore; Oprah had religion incorporated in her life because of it. In addition, on account of her grandma Oprah

knew how to read and compose before the age of three. Oprah during church would discuss poems, and verses from the bible. This prepared her for later in life with her talk show, as well as, skip grades during middle and high school because of her intelligence. Her mother wasn’t a great role model, however; Oprah managed to help her out when she got pregnant again with her half-sister. While living with her mother, Oprah got raped by her nineteen-year-old cousin who baby sited her. However, this wasn’t the only time she got sexually abused by her cousin, uncle, her mom boyfriend, and a family friend during her stay in Milwaukee. By the age of thirteen she ran away from home, and got pregnant by age 14, however; she lost her son, and she saw this a second opportunity in life.
Moreover, once again she was sent to live with her strict father, and attended school, while in school she took a public speaking class, and was elected class president in which she met President Nixon at the time. It was starting to be a new beginning for Oprah while pursuing her education. In college she was offered a reporter job in Maryland, but she had to decide between graduating and accepting the job. In addition, she took the job, however; she wasn’t very good at it and was fired. Later, Oprah’s boss set her up as a talk show host on a morning program called “People Are Talking” (1978). Immediately, after the first show Oprah knew this is what she wanted to do for the rest of her life, which launched her career. The Oprah Winfrey show first targeted woman, however soon due to controversial topics and intriguing topics Oprah brought on to the show it appealed to people of all genders, ethnics, and ages. Also, Winfrey has done some acting as well. Furthermore, she has been nominated for prestigious awards and recognitions which she has won. For example, she recently was awarded the Cecil B. DeMille award at the Golden Globes last month and gave a very inspiring speech. Winfrey has become a great role model for women of all ethnicities, but mainly for African Americans.
Oprah Winfrey will everlastingly be recognized as a trend-setter through the points of interest she made, turning into the primary female African American to have a network show. Inspiring a great many individuals over the world, talking about noteworthy issues on her show, for example, equal rights toward genders, racism, poverty, and numerous others. Oprah will be viewed as a symbol, somebody who paved the way for others to wind up fruitful.