Agent of Change #6 : Oprah Winfrey
American television host, actress, producer and philanthropist Oprah Gail Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954, in Kosciusko, Mississippi. After a troubled adolescence in a small farming community, where she was sexually abused by a number of male relatives and friends of her mother, Vernita, she moved to Nashville to live with her father, Vernon, a barber and businessman. She entered Tennessee State University in 1971 and began working in radio and television broadcasting in Nashville. In 1976, Winfrey moved to Baltimore, where she hosted a hit TV chat show, People Are Talking, after which she was recruited by a Chicago TV station to host her own morning show. Later, she went on to pursue her two-and-a-half decade stint as host of her own, wildly popular program: The Oprah Winfrey Show.
According to Forbes magazine, Oprah was the richest African American of the 20th century and the world’s only Black billionaire for three years running. Life magazine hailed her as the most influential woman of her generation. In 2005, Business Week named her the greatest Black philanthropist in American history. Oprah’s Angel Network has raised more than $51,000,000 for charitable programs, including girls’ education in South Africa and relief to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Winfrey is a dedicated activist for children’s rights; in 1994, President Clinton signed a bill into law that Winfrey had proposed to Congress, creating a nationwide database of convicted child abusers. She founded the Family for Better Lives foundation and also contributes to her alma mater, Tennessee State University.
Oprah has over come many barriers in her life time, and has successful made it to the top, and she still has the biggest heart ever. She has been able to touch the lives of millions of people, she is an agent of change on a big scale, but its not about how many, its about what you do.
To learn more about Oprah check out the
http://www.biography.com/people/oprah-winfrey-9534419?page=1
Check out some of her charity work
http://www.oprah.com/index.html
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