Oprah Winfrey An American Hero By: Victoria Guzman

Upbringing Oprah was born to a teenage mother in Kosciusco, Mississippi. Since her mother was not yet fit to take care of her she grew up with her grandmother until her mother found work. Winfrey’s grandmother lived on a rural farm. Despite this rustic upbringing Hattie Mae Lee was an educated woman. Her grandmother taught her 2 read at a very early age and by the time that she was 3 she was reciting bible verses in church. Her grandmother instilled a very deep love of literature into her. When it was time to start school she entered more than ready to start kindergarten. Quickly she was moved up to the first grade. This was the very beginning 2 her successful speaking carrier.

Adolescence By the time Oprah was 14 or 15 by her own account she said that she was promiscuous. This lead to her getting pregnant and after giving birth to a boy that soon after died. After this happened Oprah had to go live with her father. Living with him was very different. Everyday he made her write about her day. He also made sure she always had her homework done and that she was home by curfew. Because of his strict rules and high expectations she thrived, became an honors student and even won a beauty contest and was crowned Miss Black Tennessee. Winning the crown landed her a job at a local radio station called WVOL.

Clime to the Top By the time Oprah reached 17 it was very obvious that she was good at what she liked to do……speak! Her first years of college she still continued to work at the radio station. After graduating from Tennessee State University for speech communications and performing arts she got signed with a local TV show as a reporter and anchor. To follow her calling Oprah started moving around from town to town. Soon she found herself co-anchoring in Baltimore. The news of the new found talent soon spread across to other cities including Chicago. Here she had her own thirty minute AM show. The high ratings did not lie. The show was changed to an hour long show and AM Chicago was transformed into the Oprah Winfery Show.

The Oprah Show Almost every one has heard about or seen the Oprah Winfery Show. This is why she is so famous. Her show gave everyone a voice, good cooking tips, health answer, and much more. Every one can have a show but it is Oprah’s humor, tenderness and affection that made her one of the most adored TV hostess. As the years passed on the show a dull moment was never found. All of her shows in some way related to all house wives and on occasions the husbands too. Repeatedly she won Grammy after Grammy and award followed by more. Some of them include favorite talk show host award that she won three times and entertainer of the year.

Other Accomplishments Other than the great success of the Oprah Show many people don’t know the other works that she has done. One of her most touching things that she has done is build an all girls school in Africa. There you will find the most intelligent heart warming girls. Oprah personally interviewed all the girls considered to the school. Apart from all the things that she does for the world and communities she has been in a small film called “The Color Purple”. For this she was nominated an Oscar and a Golden Globe Award. Also to add to the list, the O magazine, and OWN network. All of her endorsements hard work and show have made her the first black billionaire in the world.

American Hero Without a doubt Oprah Winfery is one of the most recognizable African American women. I believe that over coming the struggles of her life and making it so far in the world of daytime television makes her an icon. What truly makes her a hero is her empathy and spirit. She has had a great impact to the people on her show that she has help but most important to her viewers. She shows us that everyone has a story and is fighting their own personal battle. Oprah makes you feel like going out and helping your neighbor and that is why is chose her as my American hero.

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