MAISIE O’MEARAWORLD HISTORY HONORS

Oprah Winfrey Scrapbook

Childhood

Born January 29, 1954 in Kosciusko, Mississippi

Raised by grandma on a farm

Started learning to read aloud and recite at age three Spoke at her church

Moved to Milwaukee to live with mother, Vernita, at age six Oprah as an infant

Red dot is Kosciusko, Mississippi

Childhood

Was sexually abused and molested by friends and relatives of mother

Ran away at age 13Sent to a juvenile

detention center but denied because it was full

Vernita Winfrey

Juvenile detention center

Childhood

Sent to Nashville to live with father Vernon Winfrey Very strict man Made Oprah read a

book and write a book report every week

Looked towards reading for comfort

Vernon Winfrey

Work

Age 17- hired by WVOL radio in Nashville while still in high school

Age 19- became reporter of WTVF-TV in Nashville Youngest reporter and

first African American woman at that station

Went to Tennessee State University Majored in Performing

Arts and Speech Communications

Oprah as a young woman

Tennessee State University

Work

Co-anchored the Six O’Clock News at Baltimore’s WJZ-TV

Later was co-host of talk show People are Talking

1984- hosted AM Chicago Number one talk show

locally

Oprah on People are Talking

Oprah on AM Chicago

Oprah Winfrey Show

AM Chicago was extended to one hour and became The Oprah Winfrey Show 1986- became the highest

rated talk show in history First year made $125

million Oprah received $30

million Began the Oprah Book

Club Part of her talk show Many of the books

became best sellers

Oprah Winfrey Show

2004- signed a contract to continue show through 2011 season

Show is viewed on more than 200 TV stations in the U.S.

Shown in over 100 countries around the world

Work

1985- Starred in a movie called The Color Purple Received nominations

for an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress

Also starred in Native Son a movie form of Richard Wright’s 1940 book

Oprah in The Color Purple

Oprah in Native Son

Work

1988- created her own production studio HARPO Studios

Created TV miniseries called The Women of Brewster Place in 1989

Third woman in American film industry to own a studio

Co-founded Oxygen Media, Inc. Television station designed

for women2000- founded O: The

Oprah Magazine

Work

Wanted to create a national database of child abusers Inspired by her childhood

abuse experiences1993- the “Oprah Bill” was

signed by President Clinton that founded the database

Established the Family for Better Lives Foundation

2007- campaigned for Barack Obama Attracted largest crowd in

primary season

Oprah and Bill Clinton

Oprah and President Barack Obama

Oprah’s Angel Network

2000- started giving an award to people who work to help others "Use Your Life Award”

Has raised over $80,000,000 for charity programs All audience donations

go to nonprofit organizations

Oprah presenting the “Use Your Life Award”

Oprah’s Angel Network

Worked for the cause of education for girls in South Africa

Donated to Hurricane Katrina victims

Oprah and girls in South Africa

Oprah helping with Hurricane Katrina victims

Accomplishments

June 1987- The Oprah Winfrey Show won three Daytime Emmy Awards in three categories: Outstanding Host Outstanding Talk/Service

Program Outstanding Direction

1988- the show won another Daytime Emmy Outstanding Talk/Service

Program

Daytime Emmy Award

Oprah with one of her Daytime Emmy Awards

Accomplishments

1988- She won the international Radio and Television Society's "Broadcaster of the Year" Award Youngest person and

fifth woman to ever win that award

1998- TIME Magazine named her one of the 100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century

100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century

Oprah in 1988

Accomplishments

1998- received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

1999- received National Book Foundation's 50th anniversary gold medal for services to authors and books

First African American woman to become a billionaire

Accomplishments

2002- first to receive The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Bob Hope Humanitarian Award

2004- received a Global Humanitarian Action Award from the United Nations Association of the United States of America

Oprah and the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award

Oprah being honored by the United Nations Association

Accomplishments

2005- was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

2007- given a 2007 Humanitarian Award from The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity

Oprah and Elie Wiesel

Legacy

Will go down in history as one of the most influential and inspiring women that have ever lived

Will be remembered for: Her show and studio Her work to improve the

lives of anyone who needs it

Known as “America’s Best Friend” and definitely lives up to that title

“Though I am grateful for the blessings of wealth, it hasn’t changed who I am. My feet are still on the ground. I’m just wearing better shoes.” – Oprah Winfrey