Oprah Winfrey, 63, ignited hope for us with her inspiring acceptance speech after receiving the Cecil B. DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement at the Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 8. Many of us are now praying that she challenge Donald Trump and run for President in 2020. In just under 10 minutes, Oprah comforted us, encouraged us and called us to action. She was honest about our country’s failures, but optimistic about its future. Her words were both whimsical and maternal, yet she managed to teach us about the ever inspiring Recy Taylor, the Alabama African American woman raped by six men in 1994, who finally received an apology from the state in 2011. I haven’t felt this hopeful about America since Barack Obama‘s 2008 campaign. Although this seems like a classic case of “too good to be true,” here’s why I think Oprah has a shot at the presidency.
Oprah is powerful. Well, that’s a no brainer of course, but when it comes to securing a presidential election, power is key. In addition to being worth $2.8 billion, Oprah is, well, a celebrity. It’s no secret that Oprah has influence. After all, she did help convince Senator Barack Obama to run for the presidency. What’s so great about Oprah is that she uses her influence and celebrity to effect positive change. In 2008, Oprah encouraged her viewers to take action against child predators. She told the audience of The Oprah Winfrey Show, to contact their senators in support of US Senate Bill 1738, Protect Our Children Act. This bill quickly became known as the “Oprah Bill,” and created a database of known abusers. Need more convincing?
Oprah is relatable. When it comes to winning the hearts of Americans, you must be relatable. Oprah a is self-made success despite being a minority woman and raped at just 9 years old. She has also shown victims of rape that they are not defined by their circumstances and been a role model to all minority women. She is a walking image of hope. She’s been through the storm and has made it out on top. Nothing has been handed to her. She wasn’t given a ‘small loan’ of $1 million, like someone in the presidency received from his father. Oprah was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi to an unmarried teenage mother. After being sexually abused by a relative and sent off to Tennessee, she thrived at East Nashville High School, where she won a scholarship to Tennessee State University. Now this is what you call “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps.”
Oprah is educated, but not a know it all. She has impeccable communication skills. She studied journalism at Tennessee State University and began working at a local radio station at the age of 17. She made history as both the youngest news anchor, and the first black female news anchor at Nashville’s WLAC-TV. She then went on to not only host the most influential talk show in history, but is also the editor and publisher of O magazine and an owner of her own network, OWN. With that being said, Oprah knows how to manage a team and find top talent — something that is definitely needed. I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely not fantasizing. I feel Oprah 2020 can be a reality.
HollywoodLifers, do you think Oprah would make a good president? Let us know your thoughts below!