“I remember thinking, my life won’t be like this, it will be better. And it wasn’t from a place of arrogance, it was just a place of knowing that things could be different for me somehow”
Oprah Gail Winfrey was born on January 29th, 1954 in Kosciusko, Mississippi to Vermon Winfrey, a war veteran and Vernita Lee, a maid. Shorty after giving birth to Oprah, Vernita Lee left Oprah in the care of her grandmother, Mae Lee and travelled North. While being raised in the care of her grandmother, Oprah underwent terrible conditions of poverty. However, it was in her grandmother’s care that Oprah learnt how to read and write before the age of three and would recite poems and verses out of the Bible at her church.
After her mother became pregnant with her second child, Oprah moved to Milwaukee as per her mother’s wishes. Oprah underwent a difficult period during this phase as her male relatives repeatedly sexually assaulted her. Due to her years of abuse, Oprah ran away from home experimenting with sex and drugs; she became pregnant at the age of 14 with an ill son who died shortly after birth. Oprah’s mother sent her away to live with her very strict father in Tennessee, who made education the number one priority for Oprah.
Oprah attended Nashville East High School. Her love for performance and theatre encouraged her to pursue drama and public speaking classes. This is when Oprah knew that she wanted a job in the line of speaking. In the same year, Oprah was selected school president and got the opportunity to meet Richard Nixon. In her last year of high school, Oprah entered a public speaking contest and won a scholarship to Tennessee State University where she pursued a degree in Speech Communications and Performing Arts.
Oprah was trying very hard to gain her father’s freedom; she started applying to jobs outside Nashville. A few months before graduating from university, she was offered a full time job in Maryland as a reporter. Oprah decided to choose her career over completing school, as she believed it would pave a greater way for her future. However, reporting proved to be difficult for Oprah, as she could not show emotion; at the age of 22 she was fired from her job. Her boss set her up with a job as a co-host of a morning show called “People are Talking”. After seven years of being part of a successful show, Oprah believed it was time for her to move on.
In 1981 Oprah sent her “People are Talking” tapes to A.M Chicago. She was instantly given the job and four years later the name of the show changed to “The Oprah Winfrey Show”. On September 8, 1986 the show was broadcasted nationally. In June of 1987 “The Oprah Winfrey Show” won three Daytime Emmy Awards. The show achieved significant uproar as Oprah’s fan base continued to grow. And, so did her accolades and guest list of celebraties and key personalities.
Oprah’s greatest achievement thus far has been her ability to give back and also encourage others to do so. Through her Angel Network, Oprah inspired others to make a difference in the lives of the unprivileged; she has raised over fifty one million dollars. Through the Oprah Book Club, she introduced readers to literary masterpieces; any book she chose would become an overnight bestseller. She has educated the world and raised awareness about the AIDS pandemic. And, much, much, more.
In 2003, Oprah become the first African American woman to become a billionaire. Despite her abuse ridden past, Oprah broke through barriers and overcame obstacles, inspiring the world to believe that it is not circumstances that determine how far you go in the world, but rather your heart and determination.
After 25 years in show business, Oprah turned to set up her very own Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). Through this, she hosts Oprah’s Lifeclass – a self-help program that showcases all of Oprah’s lessons, revelations and aha moments over the past 25 years broken down to help make life better, happier, bigger, richer and more fulfilling.
Watch her farewell on Youtube for a glimpse of what impact this amazing woman has had on the lives of millions of people.
Fatema Dewji (fgdewji@gmail.com)
