CLEVELAND - Oprah Winfrey is an international celebrity with a net worth that reaches into the billions. She also developed and hosted the most successful daytime talk-show in television history. But the most remarkable thing about her is the fact that none of her above accomplishments qualify as her most remarkable feat.
Seriously.
Winfrey, 57 ended her iconic
The Oprah Winfrey Show yesterday on a stage in Chicago, Ill. in front of a studio audience of hundreds of history witnessing individuals and a global audience of well into the millions. Many elements of what makes her so endlessly remarkable was on full display as she brought to a close the show that brought her to the world's attention way back in 1986.
She explained to us what makes her tick and encouraged us to capitalize on the powers that we all hold inside us. It's what she has done from Day One, and it's that preoccupation with constant self-improvement that has enabled her to possess the gigantic influence that she does.
Looking at Oprah now, after she has accomplished so much and enlightened so many people, I can't help but to think back to when she was a newcomer to our consciousness. That was in the late 1980's, the waning years of the Reagan administration and for her, the early years of her 30's. My family, especially my grandmother were always interested in what Oprah had to say each and every weekday at 4PM EST. I remember vividly watching her show on television back then during the "tabloid era" of her show. That is when its subject matter didn't seem too different from the sensationalistic Geraldo Rivera or later, Jerry Springer.
But Oprah really
was different. Even back then when her show was still in that tabloid mode, she always had an inspiring aura about her. When she famously wheeled that wagon of fat onto her stage while sporting size 10 jeans in the fall of 1988, it was clear that she was on to something enormous. She was cathartic for many people across the U.S., first and foremost women, but eventually and certainly for men and children as well. She was still mostly unknown at the time she co-starred in
The Color Purple in 1985. But by the time she developed, produced and starred in the uplifting television miniseries
The Women of Brewster Place in 1989, her ascension was clearly on the fast track. The higher she rose in the entertainment industry, the more she became a valuable role model and a stunning representation of what anyone can accomplish with the proper amount of discipline and drive.
Pure inspiration.
Something great has been said many times over the years and especially during the past few days about Oprah's meteoric rise, but it bears repeating again. For Oprah to have come from the time, place and circumstance that she comes from, her legendary achievements become even more incredible. Born in the racist South in the mid-1950s (during widespread discrimination and hatred towards Blacks), she was instantly thrust into a seemingly impossible and closed off world, especially with her being a Black female. Her first 15 years of life were filled with an endless array of bad luck, tragic situations and general hopelessness. From poverty and low self-esteem to sexual assault and drug use and an adolescent pregnancy, Oprah knew adversity all too well and actually more than most people would ever know. When she excelled at journalism in school and soon earned a media position in Baltimore, MD, it was a testament to her courage and relentless ambition. Even back then, close to 40 years ago, Oprah was using the tools and principles that she eventually gave all of us to overcome the odds and create our own happily ever after.
That is just one reason why she is so special.
When Oprah, at age 39 traveled to California in early 1993 for an historic interview with the iconic yet extremely reclusive Michael Jackson, I was beside myself with anticipation and joy. I couldn't wait to see Michael on television again, especially in an interview situation which was a very rare occurrence. During the famous broadcast (which took place at his Neverland Ranch), the entire planet learned details of the megastar that we had not previously known; he publicly disclosed for the first time ever the skin condition he suffered from called vitiligo which, when combined with treatment creams and makeup made him appear ghostly white. He also revealed his fear of his father as well as details of the childhood beatings that he endured. He sang and danced for Oprah and gave the world a new angle from which to look at him. That amazing Oprah episode perfectly encapsulated Winfrey's ability to be a friendly ear of empathy for anyone-- even a guarded and legendary entertainer like Jackson.
America fell in love with her for that trait from the beginning.
By the mid-1990s, Oprah transitioned from talk-show host to motivational speaker with an enormous platform. Her episodes became more positive and uplifting, as opposed to controversial and gossipy. She started the "Oprah Book Club" and "O The Magazine" and ventured more into film production with her Harpo Productions at the helm and continued her financial generosity to many charitable causes. By 2003, she had become the first Black women in history to amass a net worth of at least $1 billion. She built a girls school in Africa, funded hundreds of college tuitions for people and most of all, appeared on her daily show as always, dispensing hope and lending a helping hand and an attentive ear to millions who desperately needed it.
Wow.
This past Monday and Tuesday, a grandiose celebrity-filled tribute to Oprah aired on television as a build-up to the finale of
The Oprah Winfrey Show. Her show producers, without her prior knowledge arranged for a diverse collection of A-list stars of television, film and music to salute Oprah with glittering words of praise or modified musical numbers and dance steps. Oprah's mentor, the amazing Maya Angelou even recited a touching poem she had written specifically for Winfrey. The illustrious affair took place at Chicago's United Center arena and also included a heavily cheered appearance from the great Michael Jordan, who of course starred for the Chicago Bulls for 13 seasons and led them to six NBA titles. Jordan, like Oprah arrived in Chicago in 1984 and he made it clear to her just how deeply she has inspired him over the years.
That's saying a ton coming from Jordan.
That affair, with all of its sparkling star power was highly impressive, yet still pales in comparison to the scores of regular people whom Oprah has helped or influenced. Without question, she will go down in history as a very important and transcendent figure who educated and inspired hope, courage, confidence and love. The world is a trillion times better because she lived in it and used her gifts and platform in the most tremendous and selfless of ways.
We all owe her a debt of gratitude.
