The Life and Work of Oprah Winfrey

Oprah was born Orpah Gail Winfrey in Mississippi, on January 29, 1954 to Vernita Lee and Vernon Winfrey. Her parents separated after she was born and left her grandmother to raise her. When she was six, oprah was sent north to live with her mother in a poor Milwaukee neighborhood, six years after that she left to live with her father in Nashville, Tennessee where she began to give speeches at social gatherings. Oprah was once again forced to go back to MIlwaukee with her mother and suffered years of sexual abuse. At thirteen she ran away from home and got pregnant the following year. Her son, Canaan, was born prematurely and died shortly after birth.

Oprah attended Lincoln High School until she was transferred to Nicolet High School, which was located in the rich suburbs of Milwaukee. She started stealing money from her mother and this caused violent arguments. Eventually her mother sent her back to Tennessee where her father helped turn her life around and reach her full academic potential. She became an honors student and won the Most Popular Girl award along with the Miss Black Tennessee beauty pageant. She graduated high school with a full scholarship because of her excellent communication skills and went on the attend Tennessee State University which she graduated from in 1973 with a degree in Speech Communications and Performing Arts.

In 1986, Oprah began hosting her wildly popular show The Oprah Winfrey Show. The show aired from September 8, 1986 to May 25, 2011. She has also appeared in several films including Selma, The Color Purple, and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. In 2007 The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls was founded, which helps young women in South Africa develop leadership skills, six years later in 2013 she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama for her outstanding philanthropic work with young girls.

Since becoming famous, she has wanted nothing more than to share her wealth with those in need and make the world a better and more peaceful place. She has donated millions to various charities including: Oprah's Angel Network, The American Red Cross, Women for Women International, and Project Cuddle. She also has her own personal charities, The Oprah Winfrey Foundation and Oprah's Angel Network, which donated money for school supplies, school construction, and disaster relief. In the last several years Oprah has donated nearly 240 million dollars, and plans to donate more in the years to come.

Today Oprah is continuing her focus on education for underprivileged African Americans, mainly young women in Africa.She is now the CEO of Harpo Productions, and the Oprah Winfrey Network. She's a well renowned author and has received many awards for her work in philanthropy. In January 2018, she became the first black woman to receive the Golden Globes’ award for lifetime achievement, which is awarded to people who have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment. Oprah plans to continue her work an an author, and on television as well as her gracious work in philanthropy.