As a black child growing up in the early 2000’s, The Oprah Winfrey Show was on the screen of my clunky TV 24/7. My mother refused to watch any other talk show host, and being a young girl attached to my mother’s hip, her decision was essentially my decision. Oprah, in a sense, raised me and acted as my second mother. I spent the majority of my days watching her talk to celebrities and galvanizing her audience with an overabundance of gifts. I knew the lines of her face and the sound of her laugh as if she were my own blood. Even today, I feel connected to Oprah in a way I never have with other media personalities. She was the first black female I ever saw on television, and was the first black female I ever saw to be lauded and celebrated the way she is. Her presence in my life inspired me to pursue journalism because I knew that audiences would not only listen to a black woman, but also truly love her.
However, my boundless affection for her does not erase my logical judgement. Following Oprah’s acceptance speech for the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 75th Golden Globes, cries of “Oprah 2020” and “I’m with her” proliferated amongst the Twitterverse.
Oprah went from being dirt poor to becoming an ACTUAL self made billionaire, is intelligent, empathetic, hardworking & has done so much humanitarian work on top of being one of the best communicators on earth, why SHOULDN’T she run for president?! #Oprah2020
— Matty (@mattymonsterz) January 8, 2018
Presidential candidate? Audience riveted by honest, authentic communicator who hasn’t once called herself a genius. #Oprah2020 #GoldenGlobes
— Eileen (@EileenBillinson) January 8, 2018
Y’all I’m 99.9% sure @Oprah just declared her candidacy for 2020 with this speech and I could not be more here for it!!! “A new day is on the horizon!” #Oprah2020
— Lisa Desmond (@lisadesmond87) January 8, 2018
Her longtime partner Stedman Graham agreed with many of those on Twitter, “It’s up to the people” and “She would absolutely do it.” Notable actress and Time’s Up founder Meryl Streep seconded this statement saying, “she doesn’t have a choice.” Even Oprah herself gave the Los Angeles Times a sly smile and an “Okaay!” when asked if she was considering a run for president.
To many Americans, it seems like a non-problem to elect Oprah for 2020. I mean we already have a television star in the White House. Why don’t we have a television star who has a moral compass? Take a look at this excerpt of her speech last night, and try to ignore the obvious presidential qualities she retains.
“I want to thank the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, because we all know the press is under siege these days. But we also know it’s the insatiable dedication to uncovering the absolute truth that keeps us from turning a blind eye to corruption and to injustice, to tyrants and victims, and secrets and lies. I want to say that I value the press more than ever before as we try to navigate these complicated times, which brings me to this…What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have.”
The problem with this narrative is it feeds into the same cult of personality which elected Donald Trump. Although Oprah has an impressive list of awards and accomplishments up her sleeve, none of those achievements relate to governing or creating policy. In no way do I equate the character of Oprah Winfrey and Donald Trump (Oprah actually worked to get to where she is now and isn’t a blithering idiot). However, the one characteristic these individuals both share in common is that neither of them are qualified to hold any position in any branch of the government.
Both of their political careers, or possible political career in Oprah’s case, were launched by an adoration of their ability to entertain, not their ability to legislate. Let us not make the same mistake again and elect someone unqualified to hold the office of the presidency.
Instead, let us continue to honor Oprah for her astounding feats and her ability to inspire a nation. Oprah’s speech at the Golden Globes was indeed breathtaking and a reminder of Oprah’s influence on society. From the beginning of her time as a talk show host to present day, Oprah has shown us how to make change by setting example, and by persuading us with the conviction of her words. Let Oprah serve as an inspiration to the young girls out there who want to pursue politics, journalism, or as Oprah continually mentioned in her speech, the truth. For Oprah need not serve us any longer, she has passed the torch onto us and we will continue to push for change in her image.
Photo: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Rex/S
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