Who knew that what started on September 8, 1986 would change the very fabric of America. The first time I saw Oprah I was amazed that the network would promote a talk show hosted by a Black woman with nerve and curves. She looked like me. I was so proud because she was the epitome of the majority of Black women in my life rather than the stereotypical loud, brash and angry black women often portrayed in the media. She was to me an extenuation of the Cosby show, proving to America that we were intelligent, articulate, witty, enterprising and talented.
Today was the first show of the new season. I was truly inspired by the woman who built the home for the orphans in Africa after hearing the toast by John Travolta who told Oprah that she had made the world better. I believe we need to pay rent on the space that we occupy on this planet. I feel I owe it to God to somehow leave this world better than I found it. Our purpose in being born is to make a difference. It doesn't matter if that difference is for one or a million, do something big or something small, but do something.
Over the past 24 years, the Oprah show has opened doors for people of color, disabilities, academic and economic challenges. More importantly, she opened the eyes of America and touched the hearts of Americans. No longer can we ignore poverty, abuse, intolerance, hatred, or bigotry. We have been forced to look at ourselves and examine our beliefs regarding "isms" like racism, sexism, and size- ism. In its wake, Oprah has helped up reach a higher conscience and replaced the negative with positive "isms": romanticism, idealism, and optimism. As a woman, my sense of sisterhood is much more profound thanks to her.
During this final season I want to discover my potential and hope my readers will discover their greater powers along with me. I truly believe Oprah's show was just the vessel America needed to move forward toward inclusion and acceptance. I hate it when people say, "I don't see color". Unless you have a visual impairment, we all see color. What we need to do is to aspire to see past color. We need to love more and judge less. Each day I plan to journal my way through Oprah's Final Road Trip. I don't really know what I'll write or where I'll go but I hope I can inspire some folks to come with me. Let's see where we end up!
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