Oprah: The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks

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 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.

Although Oprah does use a portion of her wealth to support her lavish lifestyle, a large majority of the money she earns goes directly to several organizations whose goals include improving housing conditions, providing education, sanitizing water, and several other necessities that not everyone is fortunate enough to experience. One specific foundation that Oprah is very fond of, is the Angel Network. Through this network, all donations are given directly to one of many projects, one being The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. This project, created in 2007, provides an adequate learning environment for girls who have displayed some sort of academic talent or leadership, in the hopes of creating a strong group of female leaders (Andrews). Also, at age nine Oprah was sexually abused by a close family relatives, and became pregnant at fourteen years old. However, the baby never left the hospital and died just weeks after it was born. After struggling for years with this incredibly difficult secret, she was eventually able to confess the truth and has since inspired women all over the country. Oprah has not only contributed to multiple associations that promote the power and strength of women, but she is also a role model to young girls that have been through similar experiences and felt weak and worthless.

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 is an American entrepreneur, TV show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist. Oprah Winfrey owns her own network called OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) and she is the chairman of Harpo Inc. She is a self-made billionaire. She is the ONLY African American female billionaire with an estimated net worth of 3.1 billion. Winfrey is the first black woman to own and run a television network, The Oprah Winfrey show was the highest rated, most seen talk show in history and was watched in 110 countries. Oprah has been honored with awards in broadcasting, including the Peabody award and the IRIS Gold Medal award and 39 daytime Emmy awards.

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.

Before being famous Oprah Winfrey didn’t always had a good life she had a tough childhood but that didn't stop her from being famous. Oprah Struggled but she also overcame obstacles to obtain success. Born to teenage mother Oprah Winfrey lived in poverty she was so poor she had to wear dresses made of potato sacks children made fun of her. She was molested by her cousin, uncle, and a family friend. At the age of 13 after years of being abused she ran away from her home. She became pregnant at the age of 14 her son was born prematurely and

I chose Oprah Winfrey for my celebrity. There are many celebrated celebrities worthy of recognition; however, Opray stands out the most.. Opray's net worth is 3 billion dollars and is amongst America's powerful women. Opray is successful as an American media proprietor, philantropist, talk show host, actress and producer. She is known as Queen of all media. She is also the richest Afican-American of the 20th centrury. Life magazine creditd her with being the most influencial woman and the most influencial black person of her generation. In addition, she is amongst America's most powerful women. Oprah is the prime example a great role model. She grew up with the hardships of poverty, she became successful and famous, and also a thriving humanitarian.

in a mature way with herself and audience there is no doubt on why she has come so far with her life.

"As long as I can remember, I've been the kind of person who wants to share the things that makes life better" (Winfrey). This quote best fits Oprah because she is a caring person out in the society today and in the past. She has impacted the lives of many humans in the united states and also other countries in the world. Oprah Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954, in Kosciusko, Mississippi. Her childhood consists of being lonely, unhappy, and friendless. When she was young girl, her parents left her. She had no brothers and sisters. She was the only child. So, she had to move in with her grandmother and live with her. Her grandmother lived on an old rustic farm in the country

Oprah at times, did not know where her mother was. As read in Oprah Winfrey; a biography, (n.d), she would be alone in their apartment getting molested by her male relatives. This abuse lasted for five years took a toll on individual in many ways. It affected her physically, emotionally, and spiritually. According to, Marks-Ellis, A., & Dehanke, R.W., often times she questioned why and attempted to run away.

Oprah Winfrey is a hero because she tells and teaches people that they can learn from their mistakes. She gets this message through by talking on her talk show and discussing it and telling her own audience the mistakes she has learned from and how they made her a better person. By Oprah doing this she makes people feel better about their mistakes and it also helps people willing to move on and not dwell on the past as much as they should look forward to the future. Another reason that Oprah is a hero for this reason is

She is an American entrepreneur who is very well known for her multi award-winning talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show. The show aired from (1986-2011). Oprah is considered the twentieth century's richest African-American with a net worth of 2.7 billion dollars. Born Oprah Gail Winfrey on January 29, 1954 in Kosciusko, MS. After winning the Miss Black Tennessee pageant at 17 years of age, Oprah was noticed by WVOL (a local radio station) in Nashville, Tennessee. They offered her a job with them. While there she also won a full scholarship to Tennessee State University. She graduated in Performing Arts and Speech Communications.

Over the years she has presented herself as someone who has faced numerous obstacles in life and triumphed with a sense of purpose. Through her time on her daytime talk show, ‘The Oprah Winfrey