Oprah's Speech at Howard University

Do you think this was appropriate for her to say?

Oprah Calls on Graduates to Live Their Dreams
May 13, 2007 - 9:32am

WASHINGTON (AP) - The hope of her grandmother, a servant in 1950s Mississippi, was that the young Oprah Winfrey would "get some good white folks" to work for, the star talk-show host recalled Saturday.

"I regret that she didn't live past 1963 and see that I did get some really good white folks _ working for me," Winfrey told an estimated 30,000 people gathered for graduation ceremonies at Howard University, one of the nation's most prominent historically black universities.

Message edited 5/15/2007 8:28:25 PM.

Message edited 6/12/2009 3:45:56 PM.

Re: Oprah's Speech at Brown University

Was this at Brown or Howard?

Re: Oprah's Speech at Brown University

that seems a little bizarre to say at the graduation. she shoudl be celebrating their acheivement, not discussing race.

Re: Oprah's Speech at Brown University

No I don't think it was appropriate but I would probably need to read the whole speech to see what context it was in.

I think it could have been worded better in terms of civil rights advancement.

Re: Oprah's Speech at Brown University

God forbid a white person said anything like that.....

Re: Oprah's Speech at Brown University

Re: Oprah's Speech at Brown University

Re: Oprah's Speech at Brown University

Re: Oprah's Speech at Howard University

Message edited 5/15/2007 8:42:09 PM.

Re: Oprah's Speech at Howard University

I cant seem to find the WHOLE speech. Every article ends with the same line that was posted above....

Re: Oprah's Speech at Howard University

I would want to see the whole speech and the tone and way it was said to pass judgement

to me is seems like she was quoting her grandmother- who would have most likely used those words- and I think to change the wording- would have had it lose it's meaning

to me it's kind of like your grandmother saying- find a good man to work for- and then you end up being the boss- and you then say- you have good men working for you-

Re: Oprah's Speech at Howard University

Re: Oprah's Speech at Howard University

I can't get the sound (DH is watching a show on Hamilton) but here's the link:
http://www.oprah.com/about/events/about_events_main.jhtml

Re: Oprah's Speech at Howard University

Re: Oprah's Speech at Howard University

Posted by Lisa

God forbid a white person said anything like that.....

Re: Oprah's Speech at Howard University

I would like to see the speech too, but I am rarely impressed with Oprah and I don't need to be. She seems rather impressed with herself.

Re: Oprah's Speech at Howard University

Re: Oprah's Speech at Howard University

In isolation, the comment seems tacky and in poor taste. I'd have to read this in the context of her speech to make an appropriate judgement.

Re: Oprah's Speech at Howard University

Re: Oprah's Speech at Howard University

Re: Oprah's Speech at Howard University

While I agree she has come a long way...I don't think this comment was appropriate.

I am not an Oprah fan at all...

Re: Oprah's Speech at Howard University

In this day and age of "affirmative action", nothing really surprises me anymore. It's a complete double standard, and you KNOW that if something like that was said on the "flip side" referring to whites, Rev. Al Sharpton himself would be all over it.

Re: Oprah's Speech at Howard University

I listened to it, comment is about 4 minutes in.
To me, totally inappropriate.

Re: Oprah's Speech at Howard University

And, she is rich because of all the white women who support her and love her.