Oprah Winfrey - A biography Oprah was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi on January 29, 1954 and was raised there as well. She started her career in 1957 when she was less than four years old and went from church to church singing and preaching. She was taught to read at an age when most children are bearly learning how to walk. When Oprah was nine, her fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Duncan became a great inspiration to her because of the fact that Mrs. Duncan taught Oprah to believe in herself. Oprah learned that could do almost anything. This was a very difficult year for young Oprah to get through, so she needed all the support she could find. At this tender and delicate age she was going through something most of us only read about or see on television. Several people (anonymous) raped Oprah and she started to think that it was an ongoing thing that would never end, and that this was the way of life and that things would never change. It wouldn't be until she was in her late twenties that she would finally tell somebody. Later Oprah became a very sexually promiscuous teenager, and got into a lot of trouble. She had always believed all her younger years that the trouble she got herself into was her fault and that something had to be wrong with her. It took Oprah 36 long years to finally figure out that it wasn't her fault. Oprah, a runaway teenager in search of herself, was sent to a juvenile detention home at the age of thirteen. As a last resort she was sent to Nashville to live under her father‘s strict discipline and rules. Vernon Winfrey (father to Oprah) saw to it that his daughter met his midnight curfew rule, and he required her to read a book followed by a book report each week. He had a dream for Oprah. He wanted her to become something in her life and wouldn't take less than her very best. Oprah launched her career in Nashville when she was hired for a radio station WVOI. Two years later she signed on with WTVF as a news reporter. Oprah went to Tennessee State University where she majored in speech communication and performing arts. In 1976 Oprah moved to Baltimore to join WJZ TV News as a co-anchor. In 1978 Oprah discovered her talent hosting talk shows. January 1984 Oprah went to Chicago to host WLS TV. Later Oprah went to A.M. Chicago. In September 1985 it was renamed "The Oprah Winfrey Show". The Oprah show became a big success. All around the nation people were watching and talking. It won three Emmy Awards in outstanding host, talk/service program and direction. It received one more Emmy Award for outstanding talk program in 1988. Also the same year Oprah was the recipient of the international radio and television society "Broadcaster of the year" award. In 1985 she starred in The Color Purple and won nominations for best supporting actress. She played her second role as Mrs. Thomas in "Native Son". Recently, Forbes Magazine said Oprah was one of the wealthiest women in America. In my opinion this just goes to show if someone like Oprah Winfrey can do it and be so successful with so much pulling against her being a minority, a woman and with her childhood, it doesn't matter. You just have to get strong and pull through your problems. Give it your best. I think Oprah is a good role model for everyone of all colors. This article was written by Erica Tum-Suden, our youngest contributor to date.

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