Oprah Winfrey, Bio

Oprah: A Modern Day Hero

Raul Garcia

COM150 Effective Essay Writing

Lori Pommerenke

University of Phoenix

In today’s day and age, the word hero can have many definitions and interpretations. It is common to infer that a hero is a mythological creature or a fictional character with supernatural abilities and powers; but the word hero conceals a deeper meaning for today’s philanthropists and humanitarians. A perfect example of today’s hero would be Oprah Winfrey; a warrior that struggled against a horrific life but still managed to climb the tiers of success until reaching the highest pinnacle possible. “Hero” to many might sound like a word only used in sci-fi movies, but a real-life hero promotes peace, encourages education and success, and gives back to the world. After struggling against adversity in childhood, Oprah Winfrey now demonstrates a philanthropic lifestyle that sparks attention and admiration around the world.

Oprah Winfrey was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi on January 29, 1954. She was born into poverty to a mother who worked as a housekeeper and a father who was never at home. Even though she thrived academically, life at home was nothing but dysfunctional and sad. Oprah spent her early childhood years living with her grandmother in a farm, where she learned how to read and write under her tutelage. Oprah’s childhood was not only scarce financially, but also jam-packed with domestic violence and sexual harassment. She then was sent to live with her mother in the city where she worked. “In the long days when her mother was absent from their inner city apartment, young Oprah was...