Showing posts with label Beyonce. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beyonce. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Oprah's Parting Words On Farewell Show-"Until We Meet Again. To God Be the Glory!"




Oprah's parting words on today's farewell show was not a goodbye,because she did not want to use that term. Instead she told her studio audience and millions of viewers worlwide, "Until we meet again. To god be the glory." Oprah has been a tremendous inspiration to me over the years and I join with millions of friends and viewers to the show in wishing her well. Oprah's humble manner and graciousness won me over as a fan and admirer from the beginning. I have been a loyal viewer for years.

The farewell season has been phenomenal. The United Center Spectacular was riveting. But,this show today was my favorite one of all. Why? Because Oprah in the way that only she could, came full circle and stressed the importance of her viewing audience, proof positive of the magical connection she has with everyday people.On the show,Oprah has no guests onstage. There is no fanfare and she says there will be no makeovers,no cars She stands regally, yet humbly before her guests with the presence of a spiritual leader or Guru as she reminesces in her "love letter" to us about how she got her start , humble beginnings in a rural Mississippi town , video clips of her first television show and other memorable show segments. There was no studio audience at her first show taping years ago. The studio she mentioned had no heat, only her and a couple guests in the throes of cooking chili. At this stage in her career, and in view of the luminaries and celebrities she has interviewed and the vasteness of her current audience, it is difficult to imagine that she was in a television broadcast studio with no people to bounce her interviews or shows topics off of.
She makes a point to today's audience that they have been as important to the shows success as she and her team and segues into the importance of "calling" and says that the "Oprah Show" and what she does is her calling. It is her passion. She emphasizes her wish that everyone of her viewers find their calling. She feels this is one of the true keys to success.

Segments of the show that stood out to me and which Oprah highlighted as some of the best moments were the ones in which friend and producer Tyler Perry revealed he was a victim of sexual abuse. This was the show where a large audience of men were liberated from the emotional trauma as well. It is a subject Oprah has discussed intimately in sharing her personal stories over the years with viewers in what has been a very illustrious journey.

The most memorable highlights of the show for me were:

• Her sharings about "calling" and passion

• The video clip of Iyanla Vanzant and how she transformed that into a powerful lesson about validation.   
   Oprah sealed it with the statement that we should always take the time to validate others.

• The heart and we should be of service and let our light shine

• the show clip on sexual abuse and Tyler Perry's revelation

• when Oprah imparts line from Color Purple "Everything Done to Me, Already Done to You", urging those in abusive relationships to leave them. The scene in the movie also prompted a lesson in what comes around goes around.

  • The statement she made about the importance of children and wanting to prevent sexual abuse and molestation to them.

The farewell spectacular at Chicago's United Center was the party that will never be forgotten with Oprah breaking down in tears as 300 men from Morehouse college walked down the isles with candles as an expression of appreciation for help she has given by way of scholarships to them to pursue their education. Celebrity after celebrity paraded on stage with phenomenal performances accompanied with creative and power packed accolades.

Twenty thousand fans filled the United Center to celebrate her generosity,humanitarian stands and her involvement in matters that have touched their lives including mega stars Aretha Franklin,Stevie Wonder,Alicia Keys,Beyonce,Usher,Madonna, Patti LaBelle, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Halle Berry, Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning,Diane Sawyer,Josh Groban,Rascal Flatts, Rosie O'Donnell,Tom Hanks,Tyler Perry,Tom Cruise,Dr. Oz,Dr. Phil,Nate Burkus and ordinary viewers. Close friend Gayle King and partner Stedman Graham. Regular people traveled from all over the country to express their appreciation,support, and some, even sadness about the void they anticipate will be left on the tube in their living rooms during the time her broadcast usually fills for the first time in 25 years.

No matter what the controversy, the need to be met after a disaster, individual, family or community tragedy Oprah has always been a comforting presence. Two of my most poignant memories of her care and humanitarian range was the handling of the New Orleans Metro Dome disaster after Hurricane Katrina and her involvement in Barack Obama's Presidential campaign. She was there on the scene early to find out just what was going on and doing all she could, lending her influence in correcting the situation while making sure the news got out to the world. The second is the role she played in the election of President Barack Obama.

The courage to stand up for a presidential candidate in light of the risks and backlash she received was profound. Many have credited her with playing an instrumental role in the election of this nation's first Black President, Barack Obama. She while playing the feat down and being extremely modest about it--it wouldn't have been Oprah-ish to laud those laurels--will undoubtedly go down in history as achieving that whether it be an oral one in the griot tradition or substantiated on the books. I have also enjoyed blogging about several of her show episodes involving major celebrities and their involvement in humanitarian projects, which she has also embraced on her program including Alicia Keys, Bono, John Mayer and others. I enjoyed attending an Oprah taping at the Fox Theater in Detroit years ago and it was a singular experience. She was gracious and very down to earth. People,mostly women stood around the block waiting for hours to get a good seat in the audience.

Her "Oprah" show will be missed, but I feel that she is going on to broader purpose and influence on the OWN Network which has gotten off to a tremendous start with insightful, self help and life improving programming. I hope she can continue with her book club somehow as well as some spin off of "Oprah's Favorite Things" with an expansion into favorite causes and programs. Perhaps I've just summed up OWN?

I also fervently hope that I will have the opportunity to meet and work with her one day. I've been blessed with meeting many celebrities over the years,but only an audience encounter with Oprah. And,while you gave viewers and those wanting to get in contact with you your personal email address with an open invitation to send one, I can't help but think of the millions and millions of emails that will come flooding in. How will you possibly be able to answer them all? Well,I suppose in the same manner as you answered so many dreams,letters and emails of those who faithfully wrote you during your 25 years on television.By the grace of god,you answered so many.

For every tree is known by his own fruit.-Luke 6:44. I think we can all agree that Oprah has been a bearer of  exceptionally good fruit.

God bless you Oprah!

Featured Posts

Cynthia Wilson Updated Contact Information

  Multi-City Locations/Addresses: In the Detroit area: Cynthia Wilson  1420 Washington Blvd. Suite 301 Detroit, Michigan 48226 Email- creati...

Corona Virus Prayer