Oprah Winfrey

When the topic of influential, powerful, and society-changing women arises, particularly within the African American community, many people often cite Oprah as one of these women. Since the 1980’s she has left a sizable impact on the United States, Europe, and even in developing, third world countries. As a philanthropist, activist, former talk show host, and business mogul, she has definitely created what some may call her own empire. She has worked her way to the pinnacle of success. Being born into poverty and knowing the difficulties and struggle that comes with it, she has remained true to her roots and those less fortunate than herself. Born to an unwed teenage mother on January 29, 1954, as a little girl, Oprah Winfrey could have never imagined the life she has created for herself today. She spent the first five years of her life on her grandmother’s farm in the small, rural town of Kosciusko, Mississippi. Her mother received financial and emotional support from her grandmother. Her grandmother even acted as a teacher, and at age three Oprah was well versed in classic poems and the Bible. Despite the poverty stricken life she was born into, Oprah was cherished among her local church goers who labeled her as a gifted child. She also enjoyed the loving support her grandmother provided. However, her world would soon drastically change for the worse. At age six, she was sent to Milwaukee along with her mother who was able to find work as a housekeeper. Oprah was confined to long days in their inner city apartment, and was frequently sexually harassed and molested by male relatives and other men whom her mother was dating. This torment and abuse had a major emotional impact on the young Oprah, and lasted from the age of nine until thirteen. In the midst of this abuse, she had attempted to run away from home at the age of fourteen, and was sent to a juvenile detention center, only to be turned down because of overcrowding within the center. She had vowed to