Kicking off her 24th season today with “the most anticipated music interview of the decade,”. Ms. Winfrey is undeniably a women of achievement.
Oprah was born to a teen mother in a small Mississippi town, but through trial and tribulation (raised very poor, divorced parents, lived from place to place with various relatives, molested as a child, drugs and lost a baby born prematurely), she has become one of Americas most wealthy and successful women.
Her influence is undeniable, check out the Oprah effect on CNBC, because she is confident enough to share and has continued to use her fame and wealth to positively make a difference in the lives of people in need.
After studying at Tennessee State University she vividly heard her father’s encouragements and requiring high standards of success for her. Her grandmother was adamant about reading, and this she has said caused her to imagine and dream big dreams, because she know there was more than her surroundings and she was anxious to explore.
Her achievements are massive: She was the first black African American woman television news anchor to work in Nashville on the WTVF-TV station at the young age of 19.
In 1984 she host “AM Chicago”, an early morning talk show. It went on to become the number one ranked talk show shortly after she started and was renamed “The Oprah Winfrey Show”, than was syndicated nationally in 1986.
The Oprah Winfrey Show has become one of the most successful and highest ranked television talk show programs in history, viewed by more than 20 million Americans (USA) every week and broadcast Internationally to more than one hundred countries worldwide.
In 1993, Winfrey hosted a rare prime-time interview with Michael Jackson which became the fourth most watched event in American television history as well as the most watched interview ever, with an audience of one hundred million.
In 1996, she started, “Oprah’s Book Club”, where books she consider great reads are endorsed and immediately become #1 best sellers.
I think the most memorable show for me has been the car giveaway, “You Get A Car”, “You Get A Car”, “Everybody Gets A Car”, Oprah gave away 276 new G6 sedan, totally free.
She was nominated for an Academy Award in 1986 for Mrs. Sophia in The Color Purple and in 2005 brought the movie to Broadway as a producer starring American Idol Winner, Fantasia. for Best Supporting Actress. I can’t wait to see the show this weekend.
In October 1998, one of her most public disappointments was the not so well received production of Beloved, based upon Toni Morrison’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel. Beloved opened to poor box-office results, losing approximately $30 million.
Also that same year, she began Oprah’s Angel Network, a nonprofit organization, that encouraging people around the world to make a difference in the lives of underprivileged others. Of course she gives beyond belief, Oprah’s Angel Network has raised more than $51,000,000. Winfrey personally covers all administrative costs associated with the charity, so 100% of all funds raised go to charity programs.
But outside of her own charity she has been named the first black person listed by Business Week as one of America’s top 50 most generous philanthropists, having given an estimated $303 million. We all remember her in the wake of hurricane Katrina, where she rebuilt homes in four states before the one year anniversary. And closer to home here in Atlanta, she has assisted more than 250 males get an education at Morehouse.
She began to publish her own magazine in 2002 and now has two: O, The Oprah Magazine and O at Home. According to Fortune O, the Oprah Magazine the most successful start-up ever in the industry.
The satellite Radio deal to me was one of the most impressive. A three-year, $55 million contract with XM to establish the channel, Oprah & Friends, was a big deal. Now only did she get paid as she always does, but she brought along her friends to have shows as well. The channel broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week on channel 156.
She has co-authored five books and it has been said she received the largest advanced fee just over the record holder former President Bill Clinton for his autobiography.
She’s involved with several popular shows, such as Rachel Ray, Dr. Phil and the much anticipated Dr. Oz show soon to come. Even hand picking, then Senator Barack Obama to run for president, one analysis estimates she delivered over a million votes in the close 2008 Democratic primary race.
And believe me these achievements are just the tip of the iceberg, get the rest of her achievements at Wikipedia
“What material success does is provide you with the ability to concentrate on other things that really matter. And that is being able to make a difference, not only in your own life, but in other people’s lives.” Oprah Winfrey

Her span is worldwide and unmatched, everything she touch turns to gold and yet she gives just as much as she receives. And as once the world’s only black billionaire, how can African American women not be truly inspired and motivated to follow her stride?
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