Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Gail Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954 in Kosciusko, Mississippi. Born to Vernita Lee an 18-year-old housemaid and Vernon Winfrey a twenty-year-old member of the armed forces. Even as a baby she had many obstacles to overcome. She was female, black and poor. With two unwed parents the only choice was to send her to live with her grandmother on a Mississippi farm. According to Oprah living with her grandmother quote, "saved her life". Wanting the best for her granddaughter, Oprah was taught to read at an early age. The ability to read began her public speaking career as she began to read sermons to the congregation of her church.

But that is where the good luck ended. At the age of six her mother decided she could now care for young Oprah in Milwaukee. At the age of nine Oprah was raped by a cousin and molested by an uncle, and a friend of her mother's. Never telling anyone, she held her feelings in and rebelled. Fed up with Oprah's behavior, her mother tried to send the thirteen year old to a detention center. Fortunately for Oprah her admission was denied due to lack of room at the center. One year later when Oprah was living with her father she became pregnant and gave birth to a still born baby. That is when her father vowed to turn her life around. He made sure she stuck to her curfew, maintained high grades in school and encouraged Oprah to be her best.

Oprah Winfrey is an award-winning television talk-show host, actress and producer. Her Oprah Winfrey Show (Debuting in 1986) is the highest-rated talk show in syndication history. Her book-of-the-month feature on the show regularly raises books from obscurity to national bestsellers. She owns a production company, Harpo, and is one of the highest-paid celebrities in the world. So what does she do with all this money? Rather than buying multiple houses and many cars she gives it to charities around the world. In December 2002 she gave gift packages of clothing, toys and school supplies to 50,000 through out the country. In December 2003, she gave 50,000 Christmas gifts to orphans in Africa.

In 1997 Oprah Winfrey began Oprah's Angel Network, a campaign to encourage people to help those in need. One project was, The World's Largest Piggy Bank, a collection of change to help send fifty students to college. Oprah also helps out at a few colleges and some Chicago public schools. Oprah's commitments extend to her initiation of the National Child Protection Act in 1991. She testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to establish a national database of convicted child abusers and on December 20, 1993, President Clinton signed the national "Oprah Bill" into law.

Some people might think that Oprah is my hero just because she has a lot of money or because she is famous. I may not know Oprah personally nor have I ever talked to her. But I can still understand her, and look up to her. Oprah Winfrey is my hero because she has triumphed over adversity. With all that has happened in her life, people she loved hurting her, being poor and black. Most black girls couldn't even dream of learning to read. But Oprah was determined to succeed. She came up and built an empire of shows and magazines production companies and charities. But the one thing she does that means the most to me, is helping poor children in Africa. Donating millions and millions of her hard earned dollars to people she has never even met. Her kindness and compassion towards others inspires me to always think of other people. And this is why Oprah Winfrey is my hero.