Oprah Winfrey Takeover Oprah Winfrey is America’s first lady of talk shows and is known for her inspiring millions of lives around the world. She established the Oprah Winfrey leadership academy foundation, to which she has donated more than 40 million to create the Oprah Winfrey leadership academy for girls in South Africa which opened in January of 2007(“Oprah Winfrey’s Official Biography” 3). She is not just a big time philanthropist but also one of the greatest talk show hosts of our generation.
In 1993 she interviewed Michael Jackson which a hundred million viewers tuned in making it the most watched interview in television history (Oprah Winfrey Biography 3). Her show has been seen by an estimated 42 million views in the United States and is broadcast internationally in 145 countries (“Oprah winfrey-televison pioneer” 2). Oprah Winfrey is an important figure in history for her influential daytime talk show and major contributions to society. The Oprah Winfrey show is probably the most famous and most watch talk show in daytime history.
Winfrey talks about a variety of things on her show but they all inspirer many people. Oprah once said “I am a woman in process. I’m just trying like everybody else. I try to take every conflict, every experience, and learn from it. Life is never dull. ”(“Oprah Winfrey Qutoes” 1). Oprah grew up in a difficult house hold her mother was never home always at work as a maid causes Winfrey to have been repeatedly molested by male relatives and another visitor. The abuse lasted for the ages nine to thirteen years of age. However her life was difficult she found a way to turn her life around and become a successful and respectable woman.
She also once saw Aretha Franklin and convinced her she was poor, Franklin gave her a hundred dollars which Oprah rented herself a hotel for three days (“Oprah Gail Winfrey” 1). “I don’t think of myself as a poor deprived ghetto girl who made good. I think of myself as somebody who from an early age knew I was responsible for myself, and I had to make good” (“Oprah Winfrey Quotes” 1). She does not look back at her past and feel sorry for herself but embraces her past and learn for it. At a New York hair salon she received a bad permant leaving her bald and depressed.
Oprah comforted herself with food, so began the weight problems that became part of her persona (“Oprah Gail Winfrey” 2) She has taken the many tragedies in her life to help guide others in need. Oprah Winfrey is known for her billions of dollars and she is also known for donating millions to people in need all around the world. Winfrey has donated more money and worked more charity events than many of the world’s richest people (Biography of Oprah Winfrey). “I don’t think you ever stop giving. I really don’t. I think it’s an on-going process.
And it’s not just about being able to write a check. It’s being able to touch somebody’s life (“Oprah Winfrey Quotes” 1). The Oprah Winfrey foundation has awarded hundreds of grants to organizations that support the education and empowerment of women, children and families in the United States and around the world. Oprah in 1991 heard the tragic story of a four year old girl molestation and murder prompted Oprah to make a difference for the children of this country by pursing a ruling that would guarantee strict sentencing of individuals of child abuse (“Oprah Gail Winfrey” 3).
Oprah also cares a lot about getting the world to pick up a book and read with her book club that is the largest book club in the world, presently attracting two million members. At the age of three Oprah was starting to show signs of being a genius as she could read and recite from her favorite childhood books and even the bible (“Biography of Oprah Winfrey” 1) “Books were my pass to personal freedom. I learned to read at age three, and soon discovered there was a whole world to conquer that went beyond our farm in Mississippi”(“Oprah Winfrey Quotes” 1).
Oprah has not only inspired people to help others in need but to further an education and follow your dreams. Oprah has worked so hard to make sure that this world is a more peaceful and happy place to live. Oprah Winfrey is an revolutionary historical figure for outstanding daytime talk show but also for changing the lives of many with selfless donations to help others in need. Oprah is an inspiring person who has been through some of the most horrible experiences but still has changed many lives by just sharing her story. She will go down in history as one of the most giving people for saving millions of lives.
Although Oprah is probably the richest women in America it is hard to calculate her influence over the way people around the world read, eat, exercise, feel and think about themselves and the world around them. (“Oprah Winfrey Biography” 4) Work Cited Biography of Oprah Winfrey – Biography, Autobiography & Memoir Resources. ” Biography, Autobiography & Memoir Resources at BiographyShelf. com. Web. 07 Jan. 2011. BrainyQuote. “Oprah Winfrey Quotes – BrainyQuote. ” Famous Quotes at BrainyQuote. N. p. Web. 06Feb. 2011. “Oprah Winfrey Biography — Academy of Achievement. Academy of Achievement Main Menu. American Academy of Achievement, Oct. -Nov. 2010. Web. 07 Jan. 2011. “Oprah Gail Winfrey. ” Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 7 Jan. 2011. “Oprah Gail Winfrey. ” Gale Student Resources in Context. Encyclopedia of World Biography, Nov. – Dec. 1998. Web. 4 Jan. 2011. “Oprah Winfrey’s Official Biography – Oprah. com. ” Oprah Winfrey’s Official Website – Live Your Best Life – Oprah. com. Harpo Productions, 2010. Web. 07 Jan. 2011.
