Oprah Winfrey Biography
Women in Business- Non-Linear Career Paths
Module 5 A1 – Female CEO Biography Research Paper
07/29/2012
Professor Bridget Ball Shaw
OPRAH WINFREY Oprah Gail Winfrey, a famous black writer, talk show host, actress, philanthropist, and television producer, was born on January 29, 1954, in Kosciusko, Mississippi. When Oprah was born her given name was Orpah from the book of Ruth in the bible and her name was changed to Oprah as it was easier for people to pronounce. Oprah was born to unwed, teenage parents. Her mother Vernita Lee was eighteen and a housemaid, her father Vernon Winfrey was twenty and in the armed forces. Oprah lived her first 6 years on a farm in Mississippi with her grandmother Hattie Mae Lee, while her mother moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin looking for work, she planned to bring Oprah to live with her there once she had a job and could provide for the family. Oprah learned to read at age 3 with the encouragement of her grandmother, who could see that Oprah had a love for reading books. Oprah started kindergarten at age 5, and was advanced to first grade very fast because she already knew how to read and write. When Oprah was 6 her grandmother became very ill, so she was send to live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with her mother, and half-sister Patricia, in a boarding house. Vernita worked as a maid cleaning houses and sometimes they still needed to rely on Welfare to support them. At age 7 Oprah was sent to live with her father and step-mother, Zelma, in Nashville. Vernon and Zelma were unable to have children of their own, they were happy to have Oprah live with them. When she moved with her father and step-mother she had her own room and her own bed for the first time. She attended Wharton Elementary school and skipped another grade going into the third grade. Oprah attended church on a regular basis in Nashville, and began to speak publicly again. When third grade was over Oprah went to visit her mother, who had had another child named
Module 5 A1 – Female CEO Biography Research Paper
07/29/2012
Professor Bridget Ball Shaw
OPRAH WINFREY Oprah Gail Winfrey, a famous black writer, talk show host, actress, philanthropist, and television producer, was born on January 29, 1954, in Kosciusko, Mississippi. When Oprah was born her given name was Orpah from the book of Ruth in the bible and her name was changed to Oprah as it was easier for people to pronounce. Oprah was born to unwed, teenage parents. Her mother Vernita Lee was eighteen and a housemaid, her father Vernon Winfrey was twenty and in the armed forces. Oprah lived her first 6 years on a farm in Mississippi with her grandmother Hattie Mae Lee, while her mother moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin looking for work, she planned to bring Oprah to live with her there once she had a job and could provide for the family. Oprah learned to read at age 3 with the encouragement of her grandmother, who could see that Oprah had a love for reading books. Oprah started kindergarten at age 5, and was advanced to first grade very fast because she already knew how to read and write. When Oprah was 6 her grandmother became very ill, so she was send to live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with her mother, and half-sister Patricia, in a boarding house. Vernita worked as a maid cleaning houses and sometimes they still needed to rely on Welfare to support them. At age 7 Oprah was sent to live with her father and step-mother, Zelma, in Nashville. Vernon and Zelma were unable to have children of their own, they were happy to have Oprah live with them. When she moved with her father and step-mother she had her own room and her own bed for the first time. She attended Wharton Elementary school and skipped another grade going into the third grade. Oprah attended church on a regular basis in Nashville, and began to speak publicly again. When third grade was over Oprah went to visit her mother, who had had another child named
Bibliography: "Oprah Winfrey Biography". (n.d.). Retrieved June 30, 2012, from Bio.com. A&E Networks Television: http://www.biography.com/people/oprah-winfrey-9534419 Fry, E. (n.d.). "A Professional Biography of Oprah Winfrey". Retrieved June 29, 2012, from About.com: http://oprah.about.com/od.oprahbiography/p/oprahcareerbio.htm Fry, E. (n.d.). A Childhood Biography of Oprah Winfrey. Retrieved June 30, 2012, from About.com: http://oprah.about.com/od/oprahbiography/p/oprahchildhood.htm?p=1 Oprah Winfrey. (2012, May). Retrieved June 30, 2012, from Forbes Magazine: http://www.forbes.com/profile/oprah-winfrey/ Oprah.com. (2011, May 17). Oprah Winfrey 's Official Biography. Retrieved June 30, 2012, from Oprah.com: http://www.oprah.com/pressroom.Oprah-Winfreys-Official-Biography/print/1