Dee's Page

---

OPRAH WINFREY (1954 -) I decided to continue with the theme that my colleague E.P established with her biography of Madame C.J Walker, and chose an equally worthy business-woman, Oprah Winfrey. While Madame C.J Walker was the first African-American woman millionaire, Oprah Winfrey is the First African-American Woman billionaire, and the richest woman in the world to date. Oprah Winfrey came up from her humble beginnings in rural Mississippi, born of unwed parents. Her maternal grandmother raised her. Oprah always had a love for reading. During the rough times she made her books her friends, and found comfort in them. The rough times began when she moved to live with her mother Vernita Lee when she was 12. During this time in her life, Oprah was molested by several family members, and began to rebel. At 14, she moved to live with her father, Vernon Winfrey, who was a strict disciplinarian. She soon learned that she was pregnant. The baby was born premature, and died soon after. Oprah then began to turn her life around, and soon went to college, at Tennessee State University where she earned her B.A. in Speech, and Performing arts. At 19 she became a reporter for a Nashville radio station. She soon switched to Television, and became the first black anchor at Nashville's WTVF-TV. Her first talk-show opportunity came in 1976, in Baltimore with a show called, "People are Talking." In 1984, Oprah accepted a job in Chicago that would launch the successful career she now enjoys. She was the host of A.M Chicago, and gave the then king of talk shows, Phil Donahue a run for his money. The show was so successful that in 1996 it was re-named the Oprah Winfrey Show. She has been a positive influence for African American Women. Oprah continues her style of relating to her guests through personal interaction, and the caring that she has always shown. Hers is a story of inspiration to all African-American women.