Oprah Winfrey: Rise to Fame
Kristina Giles
Mr. Fiorelli
Creative and Critical Writing
7 May 2011
Oprah Winfrey: Rise to Fame When people watch The Oprah Winfrey Show many never think that Oprah Winfrey would be a lady who experienced a disheartening childhood. We know she worked her way up the social mobility ladder and media industry but have people stopped to think about the specifics of how Oprah did it? What qualities did Oprah bring to her life and career that enabled her to move up the social ladder? Oprah’s childhood, the start of her career, and the launching of her talk show are all key points in Oprah’s life that have helped her become one of the most influential woman in the media and the United States today. On January 29, 1954, Oprah Gail Winfrey was born in rural Kosciusko, Mississippi to a single teenaged woman, Vernita Lee. (Winfrey, Oprah) Vernita originally named her Orpah, a name from the Book of Ruth in the Bible. Because of the pronunciation and spelling, Vernita decided to name her Oprah instead. As a young child, Oprah moved back and forth between her mother and father. She lived in both rural and inner city poverty. Because she was extremely gifted when it came to education, Oprah skipped Kindergarten and the second grade. Oprah’s life at home though, was far from perfect. She was sexuality abused at the age of nine by male relatives and friends. At fourteen, she became pregnant and gave birth to a son who died in infancy. (Winfrey, Oprah) “Winfrey became a delinquent teenager, frequently acting out and crying for attention.” (Oprah Gail) Because of this rebellion, Vernita sent Oprah to live her father, Vernon Winfrey. Oprah claims that her father saved her life. Vernon was very strict with Oprah and provided guidance, structure, rules and books. (Oprah, Gail) He made sure that school and education were the top priority for Oprah. Things began to turnaround for Oprah. She became an honor student, was voted Most Popular Girl, and joined her school’s
Mr. Fiorelli
Creative and Critical Writing
7 May 2011
Oprah Winfrey: Rise to Fame When people watch The Oprah Winfrey Show many never think that Oprah Winfrey would be a lady who experienced a disheartening childhood. We know she worked her way up the social mobility ladder and media industry but have people stopped to think about the specifics of how Oprah did it? What qualities did Oprah bring to her life and career that enabled her to move up the social ladder? Oprah’s childhood, the start of her career, and the launching of her talk show are all key points in Oprah’s life that have helped her become one of the most influential woman in the media and the United States today. On January 29, 1954, Oprah Gail Winfrey was born in rural Kosciusko, Mississippi to a single teenaged woman, Vernita Lee. (Winfrey, Oprah) Vernita originally named her Orpah, a name from the Book of Ruth in the Bible. Because of the pronunciation and spelling, Vernita decided to name her Oprah instead. As a young child, Oprah moved back and forth between her mother and father. She lived in both rural and inner city poverty. Because she was extremely gifted when it came to education, Oprah skipped Kindergarten and the second grade. Oprah’s life at home though, was far from perfect. She was sexuality abused at the age of nine by male relatives and friends. At fourteen, she became pregnant and gave birth to a son who died in infancy. (Winfrey, Oprah) “Winfrey became a delinquent teenager, frequently acting out and crying for attention.” (Oprah Gail) Because of this rebellion, Vernita sent Oprah to live her father, Vernon Winfrey. Oprah claims that her father saved her life. Vernon was very strict with Oprah and provided guidance, structure, rules and books. (Oprah, Gail) He made sure that school and education were the top priority for Oprah. Things began to turnaround for Oprah. She became an honor student, was voted Most Popular Girl, and joined her school’s