Leadership Secrets of Outstanding African American Women

African American women have overcomean oratory contest, which secured her a full scholarship
unprecedented adversity historically and have nowto Tennessee State University, where she studied
arisen to a place of marvelous success and notoriety.communications. At age 18, Winfrey won the Miss
Two of my personal favorites among AfricanBlack Tennessee beauty pageant.
American women are Rosa Parks and OprahOprah's true media career began at age 17, when
Winfrey.Winfrey worked at a local radio station while attending
Rosa Parks was an African American seamstressTSU. Working in local media, she was both the
and civil rights activist whom the U.S. Congress dubbedyoungest news anchor and the first black female
the "Mother of the Modern-Day Civil Rightsnews anchor at Nashville's WLAC-TV. She moved to
Movement". Parks is famous for her refusal onBaltimore's WJZ-TV in 1976 to co-anchor the six
December 1, 1955 to obey bus driver James Blake'so'clock news. She was then recruited as co-host of
demand that she relinquish her seat to a whiteWJZ's local talk show People Are Talking, which
passenger. Her subsequent arrest and trial for this actpremiered on August 14, 1978.
of civil disobedience triggered the Montgomery BusIn 1983, Winfrey relocated to Chicago to host
Boycott, one of the largest and most successful massWLS-TV's low-rated half-hour morning talk-show, AM
movements against racial segregation in history, andChicago. The first episode aired on January 2, 1984.
launched Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the organizersWithin months after Winfrey took over, the show
of the boycott, to the forefront of the civil rightswent from last place in the ratings to overtaking
movement. Her role in American history earned her anDonahue as the highest rated talk show in Chicago. It
iconic status in American culture, and her actions havewas renamed The Oprah Winfrey Show, expanded to
left an enduring legacy for civil rights movementsa full hour, and broadcast nationally beginning
around the world.September 8, 1986.
Oprah Winfrey after her birth spent her first six yearsTime magazine wrote, "Few people would have bet
living in rural poverty with her Grandma Hattie Mae.on Oprah Winfrey's swift rise to host of the most
Winfrey's grandmother taught her to read before thepopular talk show on TV. In a field dominated by white
age of three and took her to the local church, wheremales, she is a black female of ample bulk."
she was nicknamed "The Preacher" for her ability toOprah quickly silenced her critics by taking her show to
recite Bible verses. At age six Oprah moved to anthe top. Her simple curiosity, delightful humor, and
inner city ghetto in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with herendearing empathy attracts viewers of all walks of life.
mother.Making people feel safe in her presence, affirming their
Winfrey was molested by her cousin, uncle, and apersonhood, and encouraging their potential Oprah's
family friend. This traumatic experience deeplyshow provides viewers throughout the world a group
effected Oprah, but at the same time amazinglytherapy and personal empowerment session.
enabled her to feel for women, who would laterWhat leadership lessons can we learn from Rosa
become her major audience across the world. TurningParks and Oprah Winfrey:
her personal mess into a message, Oprah has mightily1. Stand up for yourself. Don't be afraid defy the status
arisen as a global voice for women, an advocate forquo and say no!
their rights, and a motherly figurehead who daily2. Disobedience in the eyes of men is sometimes
nurtures women throughout the world through her TVobedience in the eyes of God.
broadcast.3. Be bold as a lion and rule the jungle.
Despite her dysfunctional home life, Winfrey skipped4. Liberation for you means liberation for others.
two of her earliest grades, became the teacher's pet,5. Turn your mess into a message.
and by the time she was 13 received a scholarship to6. Your pain is the power of your purpose.
attend High School in the suburbs. Like many7. Your adversity is your testimony.
teenagers at the end of the 1960s, Winfrey rebelled,8. Pursue education and demonstration of your
ran away from home and ran the streets. When shepersonhood.
was 14, her frustrated mother sent her to live with her9. Maximize the media to expand the message.
father in Nashville, Tennessee. Vernon was strict, but10. Enlarge your heart and enlarge your world.
encouraging and made her education a priority.11. Empathize with others providing a sympathetic ear.
Winfrey became an honors student and was voted12. Love unconditionally and live wholeheartedly.
"Most Popular Girl."There is nothing new under the sun. Apply these ladies
Other aspects of Oprah's journey to success includeleadership secrets to your own life and live your
her joining her high school speech team, and placingdreams.
second in the nation in dramatic interpretation. She won