What Is Oprah Winfrey's Sexual Abuse

Oprah Winfrey
Imagine your poor, an African American woman, abused as a young child, having a teenage pregnancy, being sexually abused as a young adult, and still becoming one of the most influential woman in the world, this is Oprah. Oprah Winfrey was born in April, 1953 in Kosciusko Mississippi to Vernon Winfrey and Vernita Lee. She was sexually abused for many years of her life. At age 14 Oprah got pregnant as a result from the abuse. She feared that she would be faced with this obstacle, and sadly she was. She was so ashamed, that even when she released to the world later in life, that she was abused as a child, she kept the pregnancy a secret (Winfrey 36). Despite being abused and going through emotional hardships, Oprah Winfrey became
one of America’s favorite Idols.
At age 6, Oprah was sent from her Grandmother who cared for her previously, to live with her absent mother. During those years she was repeatedly abused by male relatives and a different visitor. The abuse lasted 4 years until she was emotionally unstable and ran away from home (achievement.org). After she left home, she realized that she was pregnant. She had the baby but, unfortunately the baby died shortly after birth (Street). Following her pregnancy she moved in with her father. She was very insecure and emotionally scarred, and he tried extremely hard to care for her and protect her. He had many concerns regarding her life, and would not

Eisenberger 2 expect anything less than what he truly thought was best for her (achievement.org). Oprah is very grateful for her father for helping her become who she is today and getting her though some of the toughest times in her life.
At age 17 in 1974, Oprah won the Miss Black Tennessee beauty pageant which started her years of success.
In 1976 she was offered an on-air job at WVOL, a radio station for African Americans in Tennessee. She continued her job at the radio station, but left it when she finished school. In 1984, she started hosting a morning program called “AM Chicago”. In less than a year, she turned the show into the newest, hottest and best show in town. Then in September 1985, the show got renamed the Oprah Winfrey Show (achievement.org). On her show she discusses racism regularly. On a special segment she brought on, Jane Elliott. She was on to the show to perform the experiment on blue and brown eyed people in the audience. It brought fuel and angered them but the actual reason for this was to discuss racism on the show. The audience eventually realized that the show was designed to discuss race. Guest star Jane Elliott explained to them that “Human beings created racism” not the other way around. This is just one of many times where racism was brought onto her show (Capretto). In 2010 Oprah announced that her show, The Oprah Winfrey Show will be ending. It stopped airing in 2011 after 24 seasons and over 5,000 broadcasts (Achievement). Oprah's road to success was long and drawn out, but in the end payed off in many ways.
Oprah dealt with many childhood traumas which mainly resulted to her great success. Her story defines her as a person and shaped her to be the woman she is today. Oprah is
grateful

Eisenberger 3 for her years where she lived in poverty. It helps her appreciate her success and achievements (Street). Gayle King, Oprah's best friend since 1976, helped her through very difficult times in her life. She helped her get through when she was sexually harassed in a relationship later on in life, hardships in relationships, and throughout her depression over the years. She helped her realize that she meant something in this world, and helped her become who she is today (Winfrey21). Also, Oprah would often turn to the song called “Stand” for comfort and support. The songwriter, Donnie McClurkin sings, “What do you do when you’ve done all you can, and it seems like never enough?” Those lyrics helped her understand that during hard times, you just push through it (Winfrey47). They both really helped Oprah understand and deal with the fact that love comes from the inside (Winfrey 53). Oprah is to many most influential, inspiring, and accomplished woman in the world. She is one of the richest self earned woman in America. She is also the richest African-American of the 20th century (achievement.org). Over the years Oprah has won many awards including, Crystal Pillar Award, Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, etc. In 1987, she won her first Emmy award for the best talk show host and best show. In 1989 she received the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's Entertainer of the year award. In the year 2002, Oprah also won the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the Emmys for her contribution and services to television and film . Oprah donates her time, effort, and money to many different causes and

Eisenberger 4 charities. She invested over $40 million to open up a girls school in South Africa in 2007 (Manohar). In 2013, Oprah received the Presidential medal of freedom from President Barack
Obama. He gave her this award for her contributions to the United States (bio.com).Oprah Has influenced the world in many ways by showing them how she was grew up in such poverty, but still made it through all the tough times even when it was hard. She inspires woman and young girls to try for every goal that the have and never to give up. She has proved time and again that anything is possible. Oprah Winfrey shows that you can overcome any obstacles you are faced with if you try.