Women's Leadership Forum: Oprah & Me

I have to admit, I have a love-hate relationship with Oprah Winfrey.  I kind of love her, and hate myself for it.  I used to tune into her show regularly, but dropped it off my Tivo list after returning to work two years ago.  I decided there was just not enough time in the day to keep up with Oprah and her shenanigans.

When I learned that Oprah was the opening speaker at the Women's Leadership Forum, I was both thrilled and annoyed.  I was thrilled to get to see her in person, but annoyed that I would have to change my travel plans to arrive in Chicago a day early, and pay for an additional night in the hotel.  Rather than risk not making in time, I decided to come early.

I'm so glad I did.

This past year, I've been fortunate to hear some of the great leaders of our time, from Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to Al Gore and Bill Clinton.  None of them has impressed me half as much as Oprah.  Oprah has an uncanny knack of reaching right out into the audience and touching each person, speaking directly from her heart to yours.  It's an amazing gift, and I have no doubt that it's one that has led her to be exactly where and who she is right now.  I also have no doubt that she deserves every bit of success that she has earned.  Say what you like, I'm now an unabashed and unapologetic Oprah fangirl.

In her remarks, Oprah talked about how she knew that someday Barack Obama would be President, after watching his speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention.  She said she has always led her life and made decisions based on her intuition and instinct, and this is just something she knew.  "We know things.  We're women.  We know things and we do things." 

All 1500 female heads in the room nodded in agreement.

She said that we, as women have thought thoughts and done deeds, in a magical, powerful female way that is unstoppable.  She said it was our responsiblity to "mother and re-mother America" in order to bring our country back from the brink.

She gave thanks to Hillary Clinton, a powerful woman who "led us boldly in the past, and will lead us brilliantly in the days to come."

Oprah told a story about visiting the girls in her school in South Africa.  One of the girls spoke up and said, "Mum Oprah, you build this school for us to become leaders, yet there is a leader in your own country who is a woman and you are not voting for her.  Why not vote for the woman leader?"

She told the girls, "We have the right to run, and we have the right to choose.  When we have those rights, we are already free."

Oprah said that we were all assembled here because we are the leaders and servants for the new America.  We stand for every woman who fought for this nation.  "We are here because we heard his incredible call, each in our own way."

She quoted "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman," in which Miss Jane looks at a tiny baby and says, "Are you the one?"

"We now know who is the one...We need to add our fire to his spark, and with that, America will not be the same.  Barack Obama represents the best of the American character and the brightest American dreams.  He is the one."

She said that there is a support system needed for great leaders, and that we are those people.  She recounted her marathon run when she turned 40.  She said that every marathon runner will tell you that no matter how hard you train, or how prepared you are, the last six miles will get to you.  At that point, "you need your friends, you need your family, you need Jesus...you need all the support you can get."

This, she said, was "the last six miles," and that Barack needs us now more than ever.

Oprah said that American women have been deceived in the past by the government, and we "are not in the mood to be deceived again.  Not in the mood to be let down again.  But we must not let down our commitment in the last six miles."

She said that to some, Barack feels like an older brother, or a son, or a friend, but others know that "a new leader has risen up...A new leader with intelligence and discipline.  He is not that one; he is the one."

At that line, the crowd went absolutely insane.

She asked us to make a solemn commitment to support "the one our country needs now, and rise to this moment as history calls out 'what are you going to do?'"

Oprah said that "America was not born to a 'no'.  This country was born to a 'yes, we can!'  This country was born to a commitment to justice and discipline...our commitment for the next 26 days should be to say 'Yes, we WILL' and make it happen."

Her message was one that bears repeating time and again:  It's not about what he can do; it's about what we can do.  He may be The One, but he can't do it without the many.

I'm not sure what it was about Oprah's delivery that go me.  I don't think just writing down her words really do them justice.  I've seen her hundreds of times on TV, and yet, being there in the room with her was a completely different experience, one that disarmed me.  She spoke with conviction, and with the power of truth in her voice.  She spoke what we all felt and may not have be able to put words to, speaking of the power of women and our abilities to remake the world.  She spoke of Barack Obama as not just a candidate, but a leader, someone with transcendent qualities that can inspire all of us to change the world.

Comments

[Lawyer Mama]

That's wonderful. I so wish I could have heard her because I completely agree. Barack Obama's candidacy isn't just about him, it's about what he's inspired all of us to do. That's a true leader in every sense of the word.

[HeatherK]

Sounds like an inspiring and uplifting speech. What gives me hope about this campaign is just witnessing the sheer number of people giving time and effort, united for a purpose. Whether it will be the phone calls I will make this week, the canvasing or that person who asked a few people if they were registered to vote. There are so many who want to do more, so that this country will be more than it is today.

[bonggamom]

I got chills just reading this and I can only imagine how inspiring it must have been to listen to Oprah in person.

[Kristin Teigen]

I spent a brief period of my life watching Oprah every day...it was when my second was a newborn and, in the midst of 6 am to 10 pm parenting (with hours in the middle of the night in between), I was given this magical hour in the middle of the day when both kids napped. Instead of trying to be productive, I let myself watch Oprah.

One day, she had Obama on, and I, too, saw the light. Over the next several days and weeks, she used the word "audacious" or "audacity" in story after story. She referenced him frequently and she talked, obliquely, of stories similar to his.

It was then I knew that he stood a good chance of winning, considering that Oprah, one of the most powerful people in world, had begun a subtle but unmistakable campaign for him, long, long before he announced. Thank God.

[hoppytoddle]

Thanks for sharing this with us, Glennia. I know exactly what you mean about the struggle with liking/rebelling against Ms. Oprah. But yes, she does have a fire & skill. Think you do, too. But then again, we all do when we speak from the heart, I think. How wonderful for you to be able to attend this event. So wish I could be there, too.

[Amy@UWM]

Man, so jealous you got to go to this conference and see Oprah. Have that same relationship with her -- love her show, but hate that I love her show. I also felt that Obama would be President someday when I saw his 2004 DNC speech. It just sent chills down my spine. He is the one.