The Inspirational Rise of Oprah Winfrey

Sexually abused 6 times to richest self-made woman in American history

"You become what you believe, not what you want or wish, but what you truly believe"

In a world where poverty’s grip suffocates dreams and hope seem like distant whispers in the night, Oprah Winfrey stands as a towering symbol of self belief.

She’s a woman who refused to be defined by circumstance and dug so deep to find her ember. 

That one flame of hope that flickered which she turned into a blazing inferno of inspiration.

As a child, she knew the sting of poverty all too well – forced to wear potato sacks when her family couldn't afford new clothes.

Fast forward to today, her name reverberates around the globe with prestige and power.

With a net worth estimated at $3 billion by Forbes, she stands as the richest self-made woman in American history, and was named one of the "100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century".

From the farmyard to the limelight, she forced her dreams into reality and leant into her raw, unfiltered self with a sheer underdog mentality.

But Oprah’s impact extends far beyond the confines of wealth and fame.

Her heart beats with empathy.

Her voice, a thunderous roar in the face of injustice, is blazing the trail for millions of people worldwide who through listening to her speeches, know they stand a chance.

Through her words and actions, she embodies the values of education, faith, and hard work, and proves that with dedication and belief in oneself, absolutely anything is possible.

Yet her journey wasn't paved with gold. She faced fierce scepticism, discrimination, and countless setbacks along the way.

Join us as we uncover the dark but undeniable rise of Oprah Winfrey.

Today on David to Goliath:

1. A Flicker of Hope in a World of Darkness

2. Foundation From Her Father

3. The Teacher Who Dared Her To Be Great

4. Finding Her True Calling

5. Transcending to Greatness

6. It’s Not The Critic Who Counts

7. Giving Back Through Education

8. The Woman In The Arena

A Flicker of Hope in a World of Darkness

Born in 1954 in Mississippi to a single teenage mother, life's tumultuous winds blew fiercely in Oprah's direction from the very start.

Shuffled around between relatives like a pawn in chess, she faced more hardships before the age of 6 than most endure in a lifetime. 

With her father, Vernon, long gone, her teenage mother struggled to make ends meet, leaving Oprah in the care of her grandmother on a farm.

Although even at the tender age of 3, her thirst for knowledge burned bright. 

She would recite Bible verses in local churches, earning her the nickname ‘The Preacher’ among the community.

With no hope but her wild imagination, she would spin tales to the farm animals.

“I don't think of myself as a poor deprived ghetto girl who made good. I think of myself as somebody who from an early age knew I was responsible for myself, and I had to make good.”

In 1960, her mother returned, but it certainly wasn't a reunion of joy.

Forced to navigate the harsh realities of life as a maid, she dragged Oprah into a makeshift family dynamic filled with uncertainty, along with two new half-siblings Patricia and Jeffrey, born to two different fathers.

Dreams seemed distant as the 4 were crammed into a tiny two-bedroom apartment, following a turbulent break-up between her mother and her then boyfriend.

So Oprah was often left with relatives, and at 9 years old, she was sexually assaulted by her nineteen year old cousin who was meant to be babysitting her.

Unfortunately, this was not the last.

She was also abused by her uncle, her mother’s boyfriend, and a family friend.

At such a young age, Oprah blamed herself for the abuse inflicted on her fragile innocence.

Not being able to make sense of what happened, she was left to harbour this dark secret, trapped in a heavy cloak of shame.

Amidst all the turmoil at home, she found solace in the sanctuary of her books.

Escaping the excruciating pain, her mind soared beyond the confines of her horrendous reality.

This became her lifeline, her flicker of hope in a world shrouded in darkness.

“Books were my pass to personal freedom. I learned to read at age three, and soon discovered there was a whole world to conquer that went beyond our farm in Mississippi.”

She began to dream. 

And in 1968, she was awarded a scholarship to Nicolet High School in the wealthy part of Milwaukee.

As the sole African American in a sea of privilege, she stood out like a sore thumb but had a fierce determination to thrive. 

Even on the darkest nights the flame of hope flickers on.

Foundation From Her Father

The abuse lasted from the age of 9 to 13.

But when Oprah tried to run away, she was sent to a juvenile detention home, only to be denied admission because all the beds were filled. 

She found herself entangled in a web of secrecy and despair.

At 14, she was out of the house a lot and on her own, often sleeping with twenty-year-old men, and having destructive arguments with her mother.

To fit in at school, she would often steal her mother’s money to buy clothes.

Her descent into a double life added more chaos to her family, leading to a pivotal decision by her mother – to send her to live with her father in Nashville.

Then came the toughest test yet. 

Barely settling into her new surroundings, at the tender age of 14, she found herself pregnant. 

But her new-born son passed away just two weeks after birth.

Amidst this tragedy, Oprah mustered the courage to disclose her hidden struggles to her father.

This was a huge turning point for her. A chance to rewire her identity.

She was determined not to give into the victim mindset.

Piece by piece, day by day, she started to shed the constraints of her past and embraced a new mindset, one focused on education and self-discovery.

She delved into school activities, immersing herself in drama, debate, and the student council.

Guided by her father's firm hand, she found stability and the structure that she needed.

A foundation to ignite the flicker of hope.

“As strict as he was, he had some concerns about me making the best of my life, and would not accept anything less than what he thought was my best.” 

And with each step forward, she embodied the essence of an underdog climbing the mountain of greatness.

Hungry to succeed, unwavering in her actions, and fierce on unravelling her true character one layer at a time. 

Hardship may bend you, but it will never break you if you refuse to surrender. 

It will teach you things you would have never otherwise learnt. The depth of your resilience.

At East Nashville High School, Oprah blossomed into an honor roll student, earning accolades for her oratory skills and captivating performances. 

She discovered her passion for media as she joined the speech team and immersed herself in the world of radio broadcasting after school. 

Her passion for literature soared as she devoured Maya Angelou's autobiography and discovered a newfound perspective on life. 

But it was public speaking where Oprah shone brightest.

In 1970, her talent was evident as she claimed victory in a prestigious speaking competition at the local Elks’ Club, earning herself a scholarship that would pave the way for a four-year college.

The stage was set, the spotlight beckoned, and it was time for Oprah to turn that flicker of hope into a blazing inferno of inspiration.

The Teacher Who Dared Her To Be Great

While still a high school senior, Oprah fearlessly embraced every opportunity to put her voice on the air.

At 17, she won the Miss Black Tennessee beauty pageant, catapulting her into the spotlight of WVOL, a radio station representing the African American community in Nashville, where she secured a coveted on-air position.

Brimming with boundless ambition and armed with a charisma that could command attention from the masses, she began working there as a part-time newsreader. 

At the same time, she also won a full scholarship to Tennessee State University, where she majored in speech communications and performing arts.

“As I became more spiritually conscious, I learned that we all are responsible for ourselves, that you create your own reality by the way you think and therefore act. You cannot blame apartheid, your parents, your circumstances, because you are not your circumstances. You are your possibilities. If you know that, you can do anything.”

Oprah continued to work at WVOL in her first year of college, and her broadcasting career began to take flight.

And one standout performance caught the eye of talent scouts, leading to an offer at CBS as a reporter and anchor. 

Despite initially hesitating, Oprah's speech teacher convinced her to seize the opportunity.

Sometimes, all it takes is one person to believe in you so you can make the jump.

This decision meant leaving college unfinished, a daunting prospect for her, but she plunged head first into the unknown.

And doing this made Oprah the first ever African American female newscaster in Nashville – still only 19 at the time.

This was a springboard for young Oprah. 

A step towards discovering her true purpose. A chance to let her personality come to the forefront.

Then finally, she found her true calling in life.

Finding Her True Calling

In 1976, destiny beckoned to Oprah with an offer from ABC in Baltimore, Maryland.

A testament to what can happen when jumping without holding the rope of comfort backed with an undeniable spirit of self belief.

Assigned the noble duty of delving into the heart of Baltimore's neighbourhoods as a journalist, she embarked on a valiant quest to amplify the voices of the local community. 

It was the perfect opportunity for her to become an arbiter of change. Something she never even knew she wanted. 

“There really is only one goal, and that is this: to fulfil the highest, most truthful expression of yourself as a human being.”

But before she found her true calling, fate dealt her another cruel blow.

Stripped of her co-anchor position after a mere eight months, she found herself relegated to the shadows as a ‘weekend features reporter’.

The once-glorified newsroom luminary, speaking of substantive stories which rang with emotion, now found herself demoted, covering the frivolities of a cockatoo's birthday party.

But amidst the despair, a glimmer of opportunity emerged from the shadows. 

Offered the chance to host a new morning show, ‘People Are Talking’, Oprah initially baulked at the prospect, viewing it as a descent into the abyss of failure.

Tears welled in her eyes as she pleaded with her boss, clinging to the tattered remnants of her once lofty dreams.

But having learnt to wield every opportunity with open arms, and determined to shine once again, she took the role, and People Are Talking debuted on August 14, 1978.

Little did the world know, this would mark the dawn of a new era in television. 

With each interview, and each segment, Oprah's innate magnetism illuminated screens across the nation, resonating with audiences on a visceral level.

As the show soared to unprecedented heights, her indomitable spirit blazed a trail of inspiration.

She had finally found her true calling.

Though the journey was fraught with challenges, she persevered for 8 years, igniting a revolution in daytime television that reverberates to this day.

But her adventure was far from over. 

She came to a point where it was becoming repetitive and she needed a change in her life. 

She needed to embrace discomfort once again. 

And in 1984, she found it.

In the bustling city of Chicago, amidst the whirlwind of morning talk shows, a sleeping giant was about to be awoken.

One that would inspire generations to come.

Transcending to Greatness

‘People Are Talking’ opened Oprah’s eyes and helped her to see that she truly enjoyed engaging with audiences and doing interviews.

With the discipline that she learned as a child from her father and her ambitious nature, she knew it was time to fully spread her wings.

“Understand that the right to choose your own path is a sacred privilege. Use it. Dwell in possibility.” 

She created tapes of herself and sent them to a stagnant talk show in Chicago named ‘A.M. Chicago’ that seemed doomed for failure. 

Throwing that boomerang out there with brute force, knowing deep in her heart it would swing back with momentum most could never deem possible.

And boy did it swing back.

My first day in Chicago, September 4, 1983. I set foot in this city, and just walking down the street, it was like roots, like the motherland. I knew I belonged here.

They rolled the dice and gave her the chance.

Within months Oprah turned that show into the top-rated talk show in Chicago, and it quickly became the legendary "Oprah Winfrey Show” we all know today.

As the show soared to national heights in 1986, Oprah's influence knew no bounds.

Captivating audiences in over 100 countries and solidifying her status as a cultural icon.

She earned her first million dollars, with more than 20 million viewers tuning in each week.

Her warm-hearted, open style resonated with the masses, effortlessly eclipsing her competitors, earning her the title of America's talk show queen, and winning her the Daytime Emmy Award for the best talk show host.

But Oprah's journey was not merely one of fame and fortune; it was a testament to resilience, empowerment and empathy. 

And it was still just the beginning of an incredibly diverse and lucrative career. 

In 1988, she formed her new production company Harpo Productions (Oprah spelled backward), and drew the Oprah Winfrey Show under its control. 

This made her the first woman in history to own and produce her own talk show.

Re-writing the rule book once again.

“There is no luck without you being prepared to handle that moment of opportunity. Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for the moment that is to come.”

Now she could produce shows that she felt should be aired and what she wanted to watch.

In 1994, with talk shows becoming increasingly trashy and exploitative, Oprah pledged to make a positive impact on her audience’s lives.

She fearlessly tackled taboo topics and championed important causes, from combating racism and abuse to promoting literacy and education.

She began to emphasize spiritual values, healthy living and self-help, and her program became more popular than ever.

Her willingness to share her own personal struggles, such as her experiences with childhood abuse and her battles with weight, created a deep sense of trust with her viewers.

And trust is the true currency of success.

In less than a decade, Oprah's net worth ballooned to $340 million, and she surpassed Bill Cosby as the wealthiest African-American. 

But underneath all of this, there was another passion looming.

It’s Not The Critic Who Counts

While her name became synonymous with the daytime talk show scene, Oprah’s passion for acting burned brightly alongside her hosting triumphs. 

She etched her name into cinematic history with her stirring portrayal of Sofia in Steven Spielberg's 1985 adaptation of Alice Walker's "The Color Purple."

Here was a woman whose talent transcended the screen, who embodied the essence of every character she portrayed with an authenticity that left audiences spellbound.

The accolades poured in, with nominations for an Oscar and a Golden Globe Award.

Undeterred by the rigours of Hollywood, she continued to flex her acting muscles, earning praise for her roles in adaptations of Richard Wright's "Native Son" and Toni Morrison's "Beloved".

But unlike the drizzling heights of The Colour Purple, Beloved proved to be a stark reality check. 

It stumbled at the box office, a reminder that even the most luminous stars don’t always get it right. 

The critics were merciless, the numbers unforgiving. 

In the aftermath, Oprah grappled with depression, finding solace in food and grappling with the harsh reality of failure.

"They said 'It's over'" 

But she refused to let failure define her narrative.

And embracing the words of Theodore Roosevelt she got back in the arena once again.

This failure became a catalyst for transformation.

"It taught me to never again—never again, ever—put all of your hopes, expectations, eggs in the basket of the box office. Do the work as an offering, and then whatever happens, happens."

“Every right decision I’ve made—every right decision I’ve ever made—has come from my gut. And every wrong decision I’ve ever made was a result of me not listening to the greater voice of myself.”

As the curtain fell on one chapter, another beckoned. 

The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) emerged from the abyss, capturing headlines with ground-breaking interviews and reshaping the media landscape once again.

“My whole reason for creating a network is literally to bring little pieces of light. It's to continue to spread little pieces of light in the world, to illuminate the possibility of the human spirit.”

It became a beacon of hope in an industry masked with uncertainty.

Her empire extended beyond the screen, with the launch of O: The Oprah Magazine in 2000, a publication that became a beacon of inspiration for millions. 

And even after the final print issue in 2020, Oprah wasted no time in ushering in a new era with Oprah Daily — a digital platform for thought-provoking storytelling that continues to inspire and empower readers around the globe today.

Giving Back Through Education

From the corridors of power to the humblest corners of the globe, Oprah’s fundamental faith in the sanctity of the human spirit has led her to illuminate the lives of the marginalized and disenfranchised with a generosity that defies measure.  

It was in the heart of South Africa, amidst the echoes of apartheid's legacy, that her passion for education ignited like wildfire.

In 2002, she sat with Nelson Mandela – two visionaries bound by a shared belief in the transformative power of learning.

Their conversation sparked a promise — a promise to open doors long closed to the underprivileged, a promise that manifested as the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls. 

Five years later, the doors of this institution swung open, offering neglected students the chance to break free from a world shrouded in poverty. 

But her philanthropy extended far beyond the realm of academia. 

Her advocacy for child protection birthed the "Oprah Bill," committed to shielding society's most vulnerable from the horrors of abuse and abandonment. 

Her generosity knew no bounds, with donations totalling over $400 million to educational causes and $12 million to the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. 

Yet, it wasn't just the magnitude of her contributions that set her apart—it was the raw passion with which she gave, a fire burning bright in the darkest corners of despair.

Her philanthropic endeavours earned her accolades, including the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the 2002 Emmy Awards and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from US President Barack Obama in 2013. 

“There is no greater gift you can give or receive than to honor your calling. It’s why you were born. And how you become most truly alive.”

In times of crisis, her compassion burned even brighter.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, she didn't just offer a helping hand—she extended a lifeline, committing $12 million to assist vulnerable communities.

Through her talk show and philanthropic endeavours, she became a voice for the voiceless, a champion for the downtrodden, and a beacon of hope for those who had lost their way.

Love has the power to conquer all.

The Woman In The Arena

“I always feel that until you take your last breath, you're always growing.” 

With a lifestyle that once seemed unimaginable, Oprah’s rise to the pinnacle of success is a story that speaks to the raw, unfiltered essence of human resilience.

When the world tunes into her shows, they don't just watch — they bear witness to a seismic shift in consciousness, where her empowering attitude and ability to inspire become a lifeline for those drowning in the depths of gloom.

Even when broaching difficult topics, she manages to unearth a glimmer of positivity, infusing her discussions with an underlying message of hope. 

In laying bare the scars of her own journey, she shatters the facades of perfection, revealing the truth of her rags-to-riches story.

"When you undervalue what you do, the world will undervalue who you are."

Honored with induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame and being the first black American awarded the prestigious Spingarn Medal by the NAACP, her impact will resonate through the ages. 

According to Forbes magazine, Oprah’s net worth is a staggering $3 billion. 

But beyond the numbers lies a woman who’s giving everything to push humanity forward. 

"I want all the girls watching here and now to know that a new day is on the horizon."

And indeed, that new day dawns brighter than ever.

A true underdog that never gave up in the arena of life.

David to Goliath Action Items:

1) Open Up About Your Struggles: We’ve all got scars and skeletons hiding in the closet we hope no one will find. But it takes a strong person to share. The moment you open up a weight will be lifted and in the process, you’ll inspire others to do the same. Don’t be afraid.

2) Work To Find Your True Calling: Everyone says ‘find your passion’ but not many people talk about how. The truth is you must take risks, get uncomfortable and keep working believing you’ll figure it out along the way. Oprah didn’t know she’d be the speaking Queen day 1 but through sheer determination and perseverance, she finally figured it out.

3) Don’t Rely On Luck: Unsuccessful people play off extraordinary achievements by saying “they got lucky” to make themselves feel secure. Whilst it may hold some truth, the reality is you must be prepared to handle that moment of opportunity when it arrives. It’s no coincidence that the harder you work, the luckier you get. Luck alone will not be enough.

4) Lead With Empathy: Oprah is a testament to the power of empathy. Sharing her own vulnerabilities, asking others the hard questions and always coming from a place of care. This is the fastest way to build deep routed trust with your audience, team and people. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

5) Believe In Yourself: Cliche to some but believing in yourself is massively underrated in a society that’s governed by fear of standing out. The harsh truth is no one is going to believe in you for you and the best person that you can 100% rely on is yourself. The power is all within.

Piecing together Oprah’s backstory was an adventure in itself.

Every bit of research about this incredible woman is grounded by a life affirming note, and the boundless potential of the human spirit.

From the ashes of despair to a Goliath of inspiration, her story has touched hearts, sparked conversations, and transformed lives.

As we reflect, may we all be inspired to embrace her values of compassion, authenticity, and the pursuit of excellence.

And every time you tune in to David to Goliath, remind yourself that each one of you has the power to make a difference in the world.

Let’s carry forward Oprah’s legacy with gratitude and determination, striving to create a brighter future for all.

Keep dreaming like a Giant my friend.

But fight and believe in your dreams like a God damn Underdog.

Yours truly,

-Nigel Thomas