There are many heroes in the world, and a lot of unique people who have the potential to do something great. Some people do heroic things and never get recognized for their bravery, integrity, and citizenship. It’s almost as if society doesn’t want heroes. In media you always hear about the bad things, but rarely focus on the good. One person who I feel is one of the most inspiring and empowering African American woman is Oprah Winfrey.
There are so many reasons why I would call Oprah a hero, her life story is a tale of bravery, beginning with her being molested by her own cousins and family friends as a young child, then going to live with her mother where she acted out as a coping method from the abuse she experienced. After a while her mother gave up trying to help her daughter and sent her to live with her father where she attended High school and became an academically excellent student who by graduation was crowned Miss Fire Prevention. A great honor and wonderful achievement.
As Oprah’s life moved forward she eventually attended the University of Tennessee where she got a degree. Oprah stayed in Nashville to attend Tennessee State University. At around 19 years old, she got a job at a local radio station. The first female and first black TV-news anchor. Later, she moved to Baltimore, Maryland to become a television news reporter. She soon became the host of the station's morning program. Finally, she knew that being a talk-show host in 1984, she moved to Chicago to be the host of A.M. Chicago, it soon was renamed The Oprah Winfrey Show. Her show soon became a top-ranked program. Oprah's show became such a hit because of her ability to appeal to women with her compassion and understanding. In 1988, she opened up Harpo Studios in Chicago. Her own show would be produced by her own production company.
In 2000, Oprah introduced O, The Oprah Magazine. The magazine was geared toward women's lifestyle around 2.3 million readers each month.
Oprah is one of the most well-known and respected philanthropists. Her private charity, The Oprah Winfrey Foundation, has donated millions of dollars to organizations supporting the education and empowerment of women. Because of Oprah's abuse when she was a child she initiated the National Child Protection Act in 1991, this act would establish a national database of convicted child abusers. On December 20, 1993, President Clinton signed the national bill into law.
Her most recent donation was the 10 million dollar pledge to build a girls school in South Africa. In January 2007, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls opened its doors. The school accepted the first 152 7th and 8th grade girls who show academic excellence despite their impoverished backgrounds. Her vision is to create the future woman leaders of South Africa.
Oprah Winfrey deserves to be named a hero through her qualities of bravery, perseverance, and compassion. She has used those qualities and reached the very top and what’s more, she is loved .Oprah winfrey is doing a lot for her fellow African America females. Oprah believes in women’s right and on her show OWN promotes women finding they building confidence