But then again, maybe Oprah should go with the flow of chants seeking her place in the run for the presidency and demonstrate that she is, indeed, designed to win. Even if it is just to irk those in power.
Just a week ago, US President Donald Trump went on to call Oprah insecure and accused her of presenting a biased show. His rant came after she hosted a follow-up group discussion with 14 voters (7 of who had voted for Trump) who had appeared on the show in fall 2017. The discussion, apparently, was to assess if those who did vote for Trump still backed the President.
Following the airing of the show, Trump tweeted, ‘Just watched a very insecure Oprah Winfrey, who at one point I knew very well, interview a panel of people on 60 Minutes. The questions were biased and slanted, the facts incorrect. Hope Oprah runs so she can be exposed and defeated just like all of the others!’
Maybe she should…
Oprah has, over the years, become a brand that is associated with empowerment – in all walks of life. She has championed causes that have found resonance with people who have the well being of fellow citizens on their minds. Whether she runs for President (and, of course, wins) or not, these causes will remain strong and resolute and she will continue pledging her support in ways that have made her an institution.
As she says, ‘Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.’
Oprah Winfrey, who plays one of ‘the Mrs’ in the upcoming ‘A Wrinkle in Time’, wears the philanthropist crown (In 2005, Business Week named her the greatest Black philanthropist in American history) above all her credentials in the entertainment industry. Although she is best known for her talk show ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’, which was the highest-rated television program of its kind in history, she has found ways to stay connected with her fans and followers.
Born into poverty in rural Mississippi to a teenage single mother, Oprah has turned fate completely around – she is currently ranked the richest African-American of the 20th century. That, amongst her several other achievements, demonstrates her constant resolve to rise above trifles. She has been vocal about the sexual assaults she endured during her childhood and her early teen years and has been a symbol of hope and triumph for millions of young girls who have suffered a similar fate.
It was, perhaps, this openness about her life that helped her create that bond of oneness with her followers. Her popular show proved to be a kind of awakening; a medium for confessions and connection, both with the celebrities featured as well as her audience.
To quote her: ‘I don’t think of myself as a poor deprived ghetto girl who made good. I think of myself as somebody who, from an early age, knew I was responsible for myself, and I had to make good.’