Did you know Oprah Winfrey was the first Black American woman to own her own production company? She falls under the criteria for Person of the Year because she is extremely influential and inspirational. She is an inspiration to others because not only did she want to achieve her own dreams through her hardships but she hoped for others to accomplish theirs as well. Her determination and strength influenced many to obtain the life they dreamed of by following in her footsteps. Oprah Winfrey was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi on January 29, 1954. When she was 17, she received a full scholarship to Tennessee State University but left to pursue a career in broadcasting. However, she eventually earned her degree in 1986. She is a committed philanthropist …show more content…
Her speech was about resilience and dreams which influenced many to work harder to achieve their goals. According to Republic World, in her speech she states, “A dream strong enough to endure the knockdowns and rejections. You can lose a role or a series, but there is one thing you can't lose -- the belief in yourself. Without that belief, you'll never succeed. And even with it, you've got, at best, an outside chance. Every Emmy nominee tonight has been knocked down, but they got back up. And that's why you're here”(paragraph 5). This reveals the significance of getting back up and believing in yourself if you are ever going through a rough patch. Winfrey has received a total of 18 Daytime Emmy awards as well as many other awards throughout her life for the recognition of her many accomplishments. Therefore, a speech given by someone who has experienced hardships but persevered through them to achieve her goals, encouraged many to want to better their lives as …show more content…
Winfrey was a victim of child abuse so she has experienced the damage which child abuse has on young lives. Due to this, she was inspired to help others by taking action against this significant issue. According to the Nation Women's Hall of Fame, she was a major force in drafting and advocating the National Child Protection Act. The act was signed in 1994 by President Clinton. This act established a required criminal history background check system of child care providers. It ensures safety to help minimize the worldwide issue of child abuse. With the help of Oprah Winfrey, many lives were saved from experiencing and enduring abuse. The act is still in effect to this day, helping many young