Oprah Winfrey is a billionaire media executive, actress, talk show host, television producer, and philanthropist and is best known for hosting her own internationally popular talk show, which was among the most popular of the genre. From there she launched her own television network, OWN. She became one of the richest and most influential women in the United States.

Oprah Winfrey graduated in 1987 from Tennessee State University where she majored in Speech Communications and Performing Arts. Yes, Oprah attended an HBCU and she is one of the many successful graduates of HBCUs. Among many of her inspirational sayings, Oprah Winfrey has famously said, “Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom.”

When Oprah worked in Baltimore, I met her twice as a child. Once when our class went to the local television station and once at a local restaurant in East Baltimore that she used to frequent with friends. In both of those meetings, Ms. Winfrey was gracious to me as a you g Black girl. I remember her smile and her warmth. I thank God for her example.

She is a beautiful Black woman who looks like me and broke glass ceilings changing the way people see Black women and women of color. In the coming weeks, she will be the first report to interview the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Meghan and Prince Harry).

She is Black History, living history and continues to break barriers, create pathways and challenge us as women to do more and change the world.

Thank you Ms. Winfrey. I salute you!