Oprah Winfrey Childhood
On January 29, 1954 Oprah Gail Winfrey was born to unwed, teenage parents in Kosciusko, Mississippi. Oprah’s mother was an eighteen year old housemaid named Vernita Lee. Her father, Vernon Winfrey was a twenty-year old coal miner. |
For the first six years of her life, Oprah stayed with her grandmother, Hattie Mae Lee on a farm in Mississippi. She was taught to read at an early age, instilling a love of reading that she retains today. She began her public speaking career at three when she started reading aloud in church and recited sermons.
At the age of six, her mother decided she would care for her and Oprah was sent to live with her mother with whom she stayed till the age of thirteen. She was raped by a cousin at nine and molested by an uncle. She did not divulge this to anyone but suffered pain inside her and rebelled.
Her mother wanted to put her in a detention centre. Ultimately she was sent to live with her father. Before she stopped her wild behavior, she became pregnant. She gave birth to a still-born baby at fourteen. She was devastated and wanted to reform herself.
Her father was responsible for turning her life around. He disciplined her, made sure that she performed well at school. She read a book a week and completed a book report on the book. She wanted to bring her life back on track. She excelled in public speaking and had a burning desire to be someone great one day.
So from having a rough childhood, Oprah Winfrey rose to be one of the most popular talk show hostesses in later years.
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