Oprah G. Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey Today (http://blogs.bet.com/entertainment/spotlight/bet-blog/assets/2009/01/oprah_winfrey.jpg)

Many people think that Oprah Winfrey is a famous person with an easy life. But not many people know her story; the beginning of her life is just about the complete opposite of what it is today. Looking at Oprah, some might think that it had to be easy for her. But they couldn’t be more wrong. Oprah had a difficult life in her early years. She had to put up with abuse, abandonment, and people who tried to bring her down. She wished that were there to help her when she needed it, so she uses her famous talk show to do just that. Knowing her today, you never would have guessed it. Oprah Winfrey is a hero because she is a positive role model for all women, she’s honest, caring, and helps people in need whenever she can.

Oprah grew up on a small farm in Mississippi, and from the beginning her life wasn’t easy. But she never gave up, and kept trying to be the very best she could be. Oprah Gail Winfrey was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi on January 29, 1954. Oprah spent the earliest years of her life with her Grandma, who taught her to read at just two years old. When six, she went to live with her mom and two brothers in the Milwaukee ghetto. At age nine, Oprah had been sexually abused. Being to busy with two jobs, her mom had no idea. The sexual abuse had a negative effect on Oprah and she became a rebellious teenager. Once Oprah turned twelve, she went to live with her father in Nashville. Thanks to her father, Winfrey’s life got turned around in a positive way. In 1976, she graduated and went to Baltimore to become a reporter and co-anchor at ABC affiliates WJZ-TV. That was just her start on her climb up to the top. In 1984, Oprah started her own talk show, with the name, The Oprah Winfrey Show. The show broadcasted in 135 countries worldwide and quickly became the number one talk show in the nation. In 1987 it received three daytime Emmy Awards for out standing host, outstanding talk/service program, and outstanding direction. In 1998 she was first in its annual list of most influential people. By 1999 she had an estimated $725 million fortune. She used her money for good as often as she could. She traveled to places in need and helped build houses or schools. On and off the screen, Oprah is a hero in everything she does.

Oprah on her world famous talk show (http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/media/images/large/20091120093221485.jpg)

Despite her difficult childhood, Oprah kept her head high, tried her best and was everything that she could be. Oprah Winfrey went from “rags, to incredible riches.” She had one of the roughest childhoods anyone could imagine, and now is one of the highest paid entertainers in the world. “When Winfrey was just nine years old, she was raped by her teenage cousin…” (Baker-Robins and Chris J.). Oprah started getting sexually abused at just nine years old, and look at where she is at today. She knew that she could be whomever she wanted to be if she set her mind to it. So she kept trying and didn’t let anybody, or anything hold her back from her dreams. Not even her terrible childhood could slow her down. Because of all the abuse Oprah had to put up with, she started to act badly, “In response to her abuse, and in attempt to get her mother’s attention, Winfrey became rebellious and somewhat delinquent.” (Baker-Robins and Chris J.). This is important because it tells us how Oprah went through a time in her life when she was having difficulties as a teenager, and even though it wasn’t easy for her, she got through it, and knew she had to change and turn her life around completely. She went from having a terrible childhood to having one of the number one talk shows of all time. She followed her dream and made it real.

Some would think that someone that grew up like Oprah did, they wouldn’t do very well once they were grown up, but Oprah proved that wrong. “In 1999, Oprah, with an estimated $725 million fortune, showed up as number 348 on the Forbes list of 400 wealthiest Americans. In 1998 she signed a contract to continue her show until 2002.” (Shaw, Susan M.). A hero never gives up. That’s exactly what Oprah did, never gave up. She knew that she was better than how she was living, and that it wasn’t who she was. So she changed and kept going after that. Her show stayed the number one talk show for twelve seasons straight. All of this wasn’t enough for Oprah; “she has won seven Emmy Awards for outstanding talk show host and nine Emmys for outstanding talk show. Winfrey was the first African American woman to own her own production studio.” (Shaw, Susan M.) Not only did she have the number one talk show for twelve seasons, but also she made history. After all of the abuse Oprah went through, she still became the first African American woman to own a production studio. She still became a hero. Having so much success with her talk show is definitely important, but what she uses her famous talk show for, makes her even more heroic.

Oprah helping young girls in Africa (http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/original/1023oprah.jpg)

Oprah’s show is not like every other talk show. She uses her show to help people all over the world. “With 40 million dollars, Oprah Winfrey has built the school of her dreams in order to fulfill the dreams 152, and counting, South African girls.” (Crockett, Kathy). Some might be surprised that someone would spend money on people other than themselves, but for Oprah, helping people out just seems like the right thing to do. One of the main characteristics of a hero is caring. That fits Oprah better than almost anyone else, and that quote shows that. When Oprah’s life wasn’t to great, nobody was there to help her out when she needed it. But Oprah being the hero that she is, decided that she wanted to change people’s lives for the better. “Oprah gave 300 members of her audience $1000 each to donate to a charity of their choice.” (Look to the Stars) Oprah always put others before herself; she gives the audience in her shows gifts instead of buying a whole bunch of things for herself. Knowing that she makes regular donations to charities shows again that she cares more about spending her hard earned money on people who need it, instead of on herself. Even though Oprah had a tough beginning, she never gave up and just kept trying. Once she got where she wanted to be, she kept going and still has not stopped. Oprah Winfrey is the true definition of hero.