Why Is Oprah Winfrey Important

Oprah Winfrey was January 29, 1954. She spent the beginning of her childhood on her Grandmother 's farm in Kosciusko, Mississippi because her mom was looking for work in the north. Her grandmother taught her how to read it as an infant. By the age of three she was reciting poems and the Bible at her grandmother 's church. When she was six she had to move to Milwaukee to stay with her mother. Her mother was a housemaid and was always absent from the home. While Oprah was at home alone, she was abused and molested by her male relatives and other male friends of her relatives. The abused lasted from age nine to thirteen and was very devastating for young Oprah. At times Oprah tried to run away but only landed her into juvenile detention homes.

Oprah opens up to her audience and it was obvious because of her sympathy and empathy for her audience as she listens to their stories. Oprah Winfrey importance in American history has been heartfelt. She highlights the everyday hero and the causes and effect she covers on her television show, magazines, and films. Encouraging philanthropy is one of her major importance. Oprah is one of the most generous rich donors in American history. Unlike most organizations that donates money to a certain thing and never go out to help with the cause, Oprah takes on a more hands on approach in making a change in peoples life and the world. Oprah likes to be involved in the causes and promoting the organizations she donates to. She also gets her audience involve in her philanthropy,

September of 1997, she introduced the Oprah’s Angel Network, to “inspire people to use their lives and to reap the truest rewards that come giving to other” (Harpo Productions). She always asked her views to spend in whatever spare change they had to help the needy and to help provide college scholarship. Over $5.1 million had been raised and another $7 million from sponsors and entertainers. In 2000, “Use Your Life Award” was one of the contributors to recognize everyday philanthropy. Recipients of the “Use Your Life Award” are “individuals who through their charitable organizations are making a difference in the lives of others” (Ibid.). About fifty-four people by 2003 had received awards that were funded with over $4 million that was collected for that specific purpose. Each recipient would get a check for