THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW... and BEYOND. 

On September 8th 1986, the Oprah Winfrey Show aired nationally for the first time.  Starting out as a simple talk show, Oprah soon began to focus on taboo topics that then penetrated into the mainstream.  As one of the only women (let alone of African descent) to host a talk show, she began to use her influence to make her viewers "Live [Their] Best Life."  Oprah began to host segments on racism, abuse, suicide, and homosexuality, thus providing viewers with a deeper understanding of other peoples' hardships.  Oprah used a therapeutic speaking style to soothe the members of her audience and interviewees with a warm and nonjudgemental confession experience.  Many of her interviewees have credited Oprah with their lives; they are the reason that they're still living.  Many celebrities have made confessions of their own on the show such as Ellen DeGeneres and Tyler Perry.  DeGeneres came out as a lesbian and Tyler Perry confessed to being molested as a child all on Oprah's show.  Her passion for life, liberty, and peace is what has made Oprah one of the wealthiest, famous, charitable, and most respected pioneers of the 20th and 21st centuries.

​

Oprah is also noted for being a talented actress.  In the beginning of her successful talk show, Oprah was in Steven Spielberg's "The Color Purple" as housewife Sofia.  She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.  She is credited with get Barack Obama 1.3 million votes for his 2008 Presidential Campaign.  Oprah also created the "Oprah's Angel Network," a charity that raised money for other charities essentially.  It did not donate to one specific charity but rather a multitude.