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Birth
Born on Jan. 29, 1954, in Kosciusko, Mississippi. Oprah's parents are Vernita Lee and Noah Robinson. She was raised by her mother, and didn't meet her father until the late 1900s. She was born as Orpah Gail Winfrey after a character in the Book of Ruth, but people didn't know how to pronounce it so her name changed to Oprah. She is 89% Sub Saharan African, 8% Native American, and 3% East Asian.birth -
Childhood
After she was born, Oprah's mother went north and Oprah lived in poverty with her grandmother for her first six years. Since they had no money Oprah wore dresses made out of potato sacks, and when she didn't do her chores, her grandmother would beat her with a switch. She learned how to read by the age of three and was nicknamed "The Preacher" because she recieted bible verses in church. At age six Oprah moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin with her mother. -
Hard times
Oprah stated that at age 9 she was molested by her cousin, uncle, and a family friend. When she was 24, she brought it to her familys' attention, and they refused to believe it. At age 13, after suffering abuse, Oprah ran away from home. When she was 14 she became with a boy, but he died shortly after birth. -
Mother daughter relationship
Oprah began stealing money from her mother, lie and argue with her, and go out with older boys. Her mother then sent Oprah to Tennessee to live with her father, and refused to take her back. Oprah once commented that she will not have children because she was not mothered well. -
Siblings
Her first sister, Patricia, was born in the 70s. In February 2003, age 43, Patricia died of cocaine addiction. Oprah's mother gave birth to a third daughter, who was later called Patricia, but was given up for adoption due to financial problems. Oprah didn't know that she had a second half sister until 2010. When Oprah moved back with her mother, she had given birth to a boy named Jeffery, Oprah's half brother, who later died of AIDS in 1989. -
High School
Oprah was enrolled at East Nashville High School. Oprah always got teased for her poverty on the bus by fellow African Americans . She became an honors student, was voted most popular, and joined the speech team. She won an oratory contest, which secured her a full scholrship at Tennessee State University, a historically black institute. -
After High School
In her first two years of college Oprah worked at a local black radio station. By working in local media, she became known as the youngest news anchor and the first black female news anchor at Nashville's WLAC-TV. She later moved to Baltimore's WJZ-TV in 1976 to co-anchor the six o'clock news. She was then recruited to join Richard Sher as co-host of WJZ's talk show "People Are Talking." Oprah also hosted another TV show there as well, called "Dialing For Dollars." -
Television
The TV show "At the Movies", was renamed "The Oprah Winfrey Show", and expanded to a one hour episode. In the early years of her show, it was known as a tabloid talk show. In the mid 1990s Oprah started hosting her shows on broader topics such as geopolitics, spirituality, interviewing celebrities, and televised giveaways. Her final show is scheduled to air Sep. 2011. On Jan. 15, 2008, Oprah and Discovery Communications announced OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. That aired on Jan. 1, 2010. -
Known for
An american television host, actress, producer, and philanthropist. She is also known for her self-titled, multi-award winning talk show. Her show became the highest ranked program of its kind in history. Oprah has been ranked the richest African American of the 20th century, the greatest black philanthropist in American history, and was once the world's only black billionare. It was also said that she is the most influential woman in the world. -
Oprah's life now
Her partner in life is Stedman Graham, and they've been together since 1986, but they're wedding ceremony never took place. Oprah's best friend is Gail King, and they have been friends since their early twenties. Oprah currently lives in "The Promised Land" in Montecito, California. She also owns a house in Lavallette, New Jersey, an apartment in Chicago, an estate on Fisher Island, Florida, a house in Douglasville, Georgia, a ski house in Telluride, Colorado, and property in Maui, Hawaii.
