Oprah Gail Winfrey was born January 29, 1954 in a farmhouse in Kosciusko, Mississippi. Her parents weren't married when Oprah was born and she was raised by her grandmother Hattie Mae. Oprah' first name was based on a name from the bible "Orpah" and some how the "r" and the "p" were switched on the birth record and her name has been Oprah ever since. I believe her name was switched for a reason it's unique, like her personality, there is only one Oprah.

When I say she went from nothing to something I meant it. Farm life is not luxurious at all. There was no bathroom in the house, no radio, and no television. Oprah did not have her own room and only owned two pairs of shoes. For the most part she would go barefoot around the farm because she had to keep her shoes clean for church.

Hattie Mae was very strict and Oprah was hit if she didn't do what she was told. Her grandmother encouraged her to read and told her it would be a very important part of her life. Oprah was taught by age three to read, write, add and subtract she started to read out loud in church. The church members were impressed with this young little girl with the power to engage readers in her voice. She made her grandmother very proud and the women of the church would say "Hattie Mae, this child is gifted," and "This child sure can talk. She is the talkingest child."

Oprah believes she is who she is because of Hattie Mae she says " I am what I am because of my grandmother; my strength, my sense of reasoning, everything. All of that was set by the time I was six years old. I basically am no different now from what I was when I was six." She knew at an early age this life on a farm was not meant for her. She says she remembers watching her grandmother boiling clothes to get them clean. Her grandmother told he to pay close attention because one day she is going to have to learn how to do the same thing. She remembers thinking "No i'm not." I couldn't imagine having to boil my clothes to keep them clean. I am so accustomed to a washer and a dryer, even a dishwasher. Oprah had an out house instead of a bathroom that is a huge change from indoor plumbing.

When Hattie Mae became ill and could not care for Oprah anymore, so she was sent to live with her mother Vernita in Milwaukee. Her mother has another daughter named Patritia with a guy she was planning to marry. Patritia and Oprah from the start did not get along. Vernita realized early that she could not take care of the two girls. They were living in a boardinghouse in one crowded room. At this time Vernita asked for help from Vernon, Oprah's father.

Oprah's father lived in Nashville, Tennessee and married to a woman named Zelma. Oprah being smart like she is skipped from kindergarten to second grade in a few weeks but her mother did not encourage her. With Zelma, her stepmother, it was very different she was strict about he doing her schoolwork and tutored Oprah at home.

That summer Oprah went to visit her mother in Milwaulkee but when it was time for her to leave her mother said no. She was pregnant with Oprah's brother Jeffery, and had intentions on getting married again. Naturally the plans fell through and they moved in to a two bed room apartment and Oprah became depressed because she missed the life she had at her fathers' house. Oprah did not feel safe, her mother had different people running in and out the apartment and Oprah was molested several times. She never said anything to he mother but started to act out by stealing money from he mother and running away from home. Her mother eventually had sent he back to her father in Nashville.

This turned Oprah's life around, she was finally where she wanted to be but she was pregnant. The baby did not survive, Oprah says her father saved her. She quickly began to engage in school again but this time it was different she was older and had started high school. She was happiest she had ever been she was voted most popular girl with he current boyfriend. Different churches started to ask her to speak at functions. She also won public speaking contests.

In her senior year her life started to take off she was asked to take place on a radio show and from there she was hired. She got paid 100 dollars a week She won a Beauty contest Miss Fire Prevention and Miss Black Nashville. Her second year of college she was hired as an anchor girl for a local television station she was the first black woman on Nashville television ever.

In 1977 there was a new manager of the television station and he believed there was more to Opera's talent. He than arranged for her to have her own talk show like Phil Donahue. She had a special gift to open up to people and get them to open as well. 1983 her show aired, her show soon beat The Donahue Show and took the number one slot.

That changed her life forever from there she knew she could do anything and had the power to help people and that is what she used her show for.

Oprah also inspires me because she is an actress as well she was in my favorite movie the Color Purple. She is a very powerful Icon regardless of color, and If she ran for president I would vote for her. I'm sure she'd win too.