Oprah was born Orpah Gail Winfrey in Mississippi on January 29, 1954 to Vernita Lee and Vernon Winfrey. Her parents separated after her birth and left her grandmother to raise her. 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 left to live with her father in Nashville, Tennessee, where she began giving speeches at social gatherings. Oprah was once 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. His son, Canaan, was born prematurely and died shortly after birth. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayOprah attended Lincoln High School until she transferred to Nicolet High School, which was located in the affluent suburbs of Milwaukee. He started stealing money from his mother and this caused violent arguments. Her mother eventually 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 along with the Miss Black Tennessee beauty pageant. She graduated from high school on a full scholarship due to her excellent communication skills and attended Tennessee State University, where 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 Entertainment. The show ran 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, helping young women in South Africa develop leadership skills, six years later, in 2013, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama for her outstanding work philanthropic with young girls. famous, she wanted nothing more than to share her wealth with those in need and make the world a better, more peaceful place. She has donated millions 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. In recent years, Oprah has donated nearly $240 million and plans to donate more in the years to come. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Today, Oprah continues her focus on education for disadvantaged African Americans, primarily young women in Africa. He is now CEO of Harpo Productions and the Oprah Winfrey Network. She is a renowned author and has received numerous awards for her work in philanthropy. In January 2018, she became the first black woman to receive the Golden Globe Lifetime Achievement Award, which is given to people who have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment. Oprah plans to continue her work as an author and on television, in addition to her gracious philanthropy work.