How Oprah Winfrey Became the True Superhero of Education

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Oprah Winfrey is one of the most famous people on Earth, thanks to an extraordinary career stretching back more than 35 years. From her Oscar-nominated role in the 1986 movie The Color Purple, through the incredible success of her talk show and a string of huge celebrity interview scoops, she has never been far from the public eye. She’s just as famous for the philanthropic gestures which have been a staple feature of her talk shows, but less is known about her offscreen charitable endeavors, and in particular her work in education. As someone who experienced an incredibly difficult childhood herself, Oprah has - with the determination of a True Superhero - been quietly committed to helping children get the best possible start in life.

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Sack Girl

Oprah was born in Mississippi in 1954. Her mother, Vernita Lee, was just 18 at the time, while her father, Vernon Winfrey, was a soldier who was swiftly called away on active duty. Soon after Oprah’s birth, her mother left Mississippi to travel north, placing Oprah in the care of her grandmother, Hattie Mae Lee. 

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