Oprah was born Orpah Gail Winfrey in Mississippi on January 29, 1954, to Vernita Lee and Vernon Winfrey. His parents separated after his birth and left his grandmother to raise him. When she was six years old, Oprah was sent north to live with her mother in a poor neighborhood in Milwaukee. Six years later, she moved with her father to Nashville, Tennessee, where she began giving speeches at social gatherings. Oprah was again forced to return to Milwaukee with her mother and suffered years of sexual abuse. At thirteen, she ran away from home and became pregnant the following year. Her son, Canaan, was born prematurely and died shortly after birth. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Oprah attended Lincoln High School until she transferred to Nicolet High School, located in the wealthy suburbs of Milwaukee. She began stealing money from her mother, which led to violent arguments. Eventually, her mother sent her back to Tennessee where her father helped her turn her life around and reach her full academic potential. She became an honors student and won the Most Popular Girl award as well as the Miss Black Tennessee beauty pageant. She graduated high school with a full scholarship due to her excellent communication skills and later attended Tennessee State University, from which she graduated in 1973 with a degree in speech communications and performing arts . In 1986, Oprah began hosting her wildly popular show The Oprah. Winfrey Show. The show aired from September 8, 1986 to May 25, 2011. She also appeared in several films including Selma, The Color Purple and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. In 2007, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls was founded, which helps young women in South Africa develop their leadership skills. Six years later, in 2013, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama for her outstanding philanthropic work with young girls. famously, she wants nothing more than to share her wealth with those in need and make the world a better, more peaceful place. She has donated millions of dollars to various charities including: Oprah's Angel Network, the American Red Cross, Women for Women International, and Project Cuddle. She also has her own personal charities, the Oprah Winfrey Foundation and Oprah's Angel Network, which have donated money for school supplies, school construction and disaster relief. Over the past few years, Oprah has donated nearly $240 million and plans to donate more in the coming years. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Today, Oprah continues her focus on the education of underprivileged African Americans, primarily young women from Africa. She is now CEO of Harpo Productions and the Oprah Winfrey Network. She is a renowned author and has received numerous awards for her philanthropic work. In January 2018, she became the first Black woman to receive the Golden Globes Lifetime Achievement Award, given to individuals recognized for their outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment. Oprah plans to continue her work as an author and on television as well as her work in philanthropy..