Life Span Development and Personality Essay

Oprah meet and thanked Rosa Parks for influencing her life. She stated, “And then I grew up and had the esteemed honor of meeting her. And wasn't that a surprise …And I thanked her then” ().

Oprah Winfrey is a billionaire media giant who started her career by hosting a hit television show called “People are Talking” for eight years, and was later recruited by a Chicago television station to host her own tv show called “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” Oprah was named the richest African American of the 20th century by Forbes, as well as the world’s only black billionaire for three years running. All this success did not come easy to her, she had to overcome challenges before she achieved the success that she has at this moment. Oprah is praised to be one of the most influential people of her generation and her rise to the top, despite the hardships she faced plays a great contribution. Oprah demonstrates resilience, growth mindset, and self efficacy as well as empowering women from all over the world by being a core example of not being defeated by her circumstances.

Oprah Winfrey was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi. He parents were UN married and separated after conception. Oprah had a difficult childhood, battling through poverty and sexual abuse at an early age.

“The best of humanity's recorded history is a creative balance between horrors endured and victories achieved, and so it was during the Harlem Renaissance.” A quote stated by Aberjhani in his novel Journey through the Power of the Rainbow: Quotations from a Life Made out of Poetry channels the significance and impact of the Harlem Renaissance as a movement that gave African Americans their first opportunity to express themselves. With the continuous, yet advanced expansion of African American impact on society in this new era, indeed we are in the midst of a new Black American Renaissance. As a renowned business woman, talk show host, actress, producer and more, Oprah Winfrey has influenced this new renaissance with her contributions of literature, performing arts, media entrepreneurship, taboo topics, and discussions on race relations as well as philanthropy.

Oprah Winfrey has had an outstanding career and has emerged as the most significant female African American of her generation and those following her. From her early childhood Oprah has faced many obstacles and family distortions such as

Oprah Winfrey overcame poverty, physical abuse and racial discrimination to become one of the most influential women in America. Her hard work and determination resulted in her success as a TV show host, movie star, and ultimately the owner of a magazine and media production company. She was once quoted as saying that the secret of life is there is no secret; it is just hard work. I remember that because it is something I have been told repeatedly by my own parents and coaches. Oprah Winfrey is also one of America’s leading philanthropists, giving her time and money to charities and foundations.

With the use of their words and actions as heroes and leaders, they were both able to show dominance and strength in their society. Oprah inspires people with her words and empowers people to be kind and stand up for what is right. She uses her show to showcase and explain worldwide issues. “Over 20 million Americans view the program every week and is broadcasted to worldwide” (Oprah Winfrey). Over 20 million people watch Oprah’s show all over the nation and her words impact how people live daily life. Oprah has a strong voice that people like and respect. Oprah is involved in many efforts all over the country and her influence around the world is respected. She is an advocate for the weight watchers program, campaigned for President Barack Obama, and has fought for female empowerment and children's rights. Oprah puts her words into action by helping out with different charities and making many generous donations. “Winfrey announced she would follow the example George and Amal Clooney and donate $500,000 to the March for Our Lives demonstration scheduled March 24” (“Oprah Winfrey Biography”). Oprah is a philanthropist and would help people in need. With an evolving perspective on how to live her life, she was influenced by her poor upbringing and discrimination as a black women. She grew from her struggle and became a relatable figure to many in the

She came from a disadvantaged background but worked very hard to overcome poverty and discrimination. She was an honors student in high school, and she seemed to have a knack early on for public speaking. She stared on schools speech team. Winning a speech contest got her a scholarship TSU. Her talk show is broadcasted to all of America. Oprah became the richest women of the 20th century.

Oprah Winfrey’s past helped shape her into the influential person she is presently. According to achievement.org, the official website of a museum of living history in Washington D.C., Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954 in Kosciusko, Mississippi to mother, Vernita Lee and father Vernon Winfrey. Vernita was just a teenager when Oprah Winfrey was born. Winfrey was sexually abused by several of her mother’s friends and relatives while her mother was away working. The abuse lasted from ages nine to thirteen. When Winfrey tried to run away, she was sent to a juvenile detention home, but was denied admittance because all

Oprah Winfrey grew up in a world of adversity, despite her early accomplishments as a gifted child. She began her career in 1976, when she moved to Baltimore to join WJZ-TV News. (Oprah Winfrey Biography, 2011) Her empathetic personality made her many friends, and she was invited to Chicago in 1984 to begin hosting a half-hour morning program. Within a year, she had turned the AM Chicago radio show into the most important radio show in town, and was soon expanded to a full one-hour format. During this time, Oprah struggled with the stereotype that as a black woman she would always be an assistant anchor on the news, or simply a well-spoken host of a talk show. This could not have been further from the truth, as Oprah was able to create her own format for excellence in all forms of media, not simply talk or television. The show was renamed the Oprah Winfrey Show in 1985, and kept that name for twenty-five years until she retired the show in 2010.

Oprah has went through abuse as a child and did drugs, but that has made her the person she is today with an outstanding tv production and billions of money.

Orpah Gail Winfrey , Winfrey’s first name was spelled “Orpah” on her birth certificate, but people mispronounced it regularly and it was there where people started to say “ Oprah”, However Oprah is her household name also Oprah family wanted to give her a Biblical name, so they went with a name from the Book of Ruth, Oprah Winfrey was born in the rural town of Kosciusko, Mississippi, on january 29, 1954 and she is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer, and a philanthropist, she one of the regarded of the most influential women in the world, also a possibly the wealthiest African American of the 20 century , Oprah live a difficult childhood, at age 13 she was raped and got the baby at 14 who was

Oprah Gail Winfrey is one of the most successful colored women in the world. She is famously known for her television program, The Oprah Winfery Show, that focused on literature, self-improvement, and spirituality. Her show still remains the highest-rated talk show in American television history. She is thought to have popularized and revolutionized the tabloid talk show genre. Her immense accomplishments and humble beginning endears her to me and makes her an interesting person to read about. She embodies virtuous qualities such as: compassion, humility and service. There a various questions I would love to ask if given the opportunity to meet her. I want to know how she was able to build such substantial courage to talk about her personal

An intelligent entertainer, educator, philanthropist, entrepreneur, dedicated activist, Oprah is leading and encouraging change through her organization, showing genuine concern for her team and followers. Oprah is there for her followers, to provide the inspiration for others, focusing on team efforts, and supports the development of the culture of the organization. She empowers creativity and new ways of thinking, listens, a lot, to the needs of her followers, has charisma, influential and inspiring.)

One reason why I consider Oprah a role model is because of how hardworking she is. For example, how she rose from poverty to great prosperity. While she used to be poor, she is now a billionaire. Also, how she continues to persevere through every task. No matter how difficult it is, she always finds a way to achieve her goal.