Category: Role Model

Introduction

Kids need positive role models to become positive when they grow up. The role model can shape that way of a kids thinking. The role model can be a famous figure, a celebrity or even someone in the family. This essay will talk about 3 essays from 3 authors who have role models in their families. 1^st essay is A Partial Remembrance of a Puerto Rican Childhood by Judith Ortiz Cofer, and the central woman is Judiths Grandmother. 2^nd essay is Grandmothers Victory by Maya Angelou, and the central woman is Mayas grandmother. 3^rd essay is Mother Tongue by Amy Tan, and the central woman is Tans mother. The essay will talk about the similar and different values in each of the central women, their motivations, and what can be discovered in each essay. It will also explain how these women are similar.

The Central Woman in A Partial Remembrance of a Puerto Rican Childhood

The grandmother has 2 different sides in her personality. The First side is the powerful woman. Judith Ortiz Cofer calls her grandmother Mama (14). Cofer says that her mother did not possess Mamas matriarchal power to command and keep everyones attention. Everybody listens to her when she speaks (Cofer, p. 15).

The other side of her personality is the merciful woman. She always used to tell stories about unfortunate people so that females in the family learn lessons (Cofer, pp. 14-20). For example, the story of Maria La Loca, she was a woman who was fooled by a man who promised to marry her. She lost her beauty and sanity (Cofer, pp. 15-20).

For Cofer, her grandmother was more merciful than her mother. The mother was strict with her kids and was always watching them because their father was not around. The grandmother gave the kids more freedom (Cofer, p.18). Cofer loved playing at her grandmothers house during the afternoon when the men were still at work and the boys had gone to play serious baseball at the park (Cofer, p. 19).

What seems to be motivating the grandmother is her role and responsibility as a grandmother. She must be merciful and share her experiences with young females.

What can be discovered in this essay is that it is important to be merciful with kids, but some strictness is necessary. Also, it is important to tell real stories about real people so that that the kids become more careful in life.

The Central Woman in Grandmothers Victory

The grandmother has two different sides in her personality. She is strict with her grandchildren when it comes to cleanness. She forces the kids to wash faces, arms, necks, legs, and feet every night even if the weather is too cold (Angelou 1). About her grandmothers strictness, Angelou says the following:

Momma was famous for pulling the quilts off after we had fallen asleep to examine our feet. If they werent clean enough for her, she took the switch (she kept one behind the bedroom door for emergencies) and woke up the offender with a few aptly placed burning reminders.

The other side of the grandmother was patient, forgiving, and merciful. She controlled herself when some girls came down to her and made fun of her. She didnt beat them or yell at them. She stayed like that until the girls got bored. When the girls were leaving, the grandmother said to them: Bye, Miz Helen, bye, Miz Ruth, bye, Miz Eloise (Angelou, p. 3).

What seems to be motivating the grandmother is religion. Angelou says that her grandmother used to tell her that not only was cleanliness next to Godliness, dirtiness was the inventor of misery (p. 1). Also, while the girls were mocking her she was hymning. Angelou heard her grandmother saying: Bread of Heaven, Bread of Heaven, Feed me till I want no more (p. 3). And after the girls left, she said: Glory, glory, hallelujah, when I lay my burden down (Angelou, p. 4).

What can be discovered in this essay is that it is necessary to be patient with kids. They are young and can do foolish things. Also, if a child is always treated with the respect he will respect others as a result.

The Central Woman in Mother Tongue

The mother has two different sides. Sometimes she is an impatient woman. Amy Tan went with her mother to the hospital because her mother wanted to see the results of her latest CAT scan. In the hospital, they told her that they cannot find the scan results. She got angry and refused to leave until the doctor came and explained everything to Amy. It was not easy to calm Amys mother down (Tan, p. 2).

The other side of her was patient with peoples rudeness. About her mother, Tan says that people in department stores, at banks, and at restaurants did not take her seriously, did not give her good service, pretended not to understand her, or even acted as if they did not hear her (Tan, p. 2).

What seems to be motivating the mother is her awareness of her broken English (Tan 2). She uses her English with her family and her society (Tan, p. 1).

What can be discovered from this essay is that everybody must accept what he is. Everybody must try to face life even if he finds some difficulties.

How Are These Three Women Similar Or Different?

All three women represent role models to the three authors. Cofer and Angelou, both look at their grandmothers as their role models because they were merciful. Both grandmothers were strict when strictness was necessary.

Tans mother is a different case. Tan considers her mother her role model because she is the woman who raised her. She accepts her mother for what she is (Tan 1). At the same time, Tan feels embarrassed by her mothers English. She blames her mothers language for affecting her results on achievement tests, I.Q. tests, and the SAT (Tan 2).

Thesis

Mercy and patience always have an influence on childrens minds. A woman can be considered a role model to a girl in the same family if she is merciful and doesnt complain about her behaviors. In this case, the kid enjoys freedom. Thats what happened in the case of Judith Ortiz Cofer and her grandmother. The grandmother let the little girl play in the house with no complaints. About her grandmother, Cofer says: I saw her as my liberator and my model (Cofer 18).

Women must try to show girls that patience is the best way to face rudeness. Maya Angelou was shocked when her grandmother preferred to be nice to people who showed no respect for her (Angelou 3).

A female role model doesnt have to be perfect in everything. Its enough for a female to become a role model if she has one good thing about her.

A Response Regarding the Strong Female Role Models

It would be better if the female role model was a member of the family. In many cases, the grandmothers are better than mothers in dealing with girls. Grandmothers have longer experience in life and they have experience in raising kids.

Conclusion

All 3 essays showed that womens actions have effects on girls way of thinking in the future. Little girls are influenced by compassion, not violence. Even the mistakes of female role models can have an impact on girls minds and their future goals.

Works Cited

1. Angelou, Maya. Grandmothers Victory. 75 Readings Plus, 7th ed. Ed. Santi V. Buscemi and Charlotte Smith. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2004. 14-20.
2. Cofer, Judith O. Silent Dancing: A Partial Remembrance of a Puerto Rican Childhood. Texas: Arte Publico Press, 1990.
3. Tan, Amy. Mother Tongue. The Writers Presence: A Pool of Readings. Ed. Donald McQuade and Robert Atwan. New York: Bedford St. Martins, 2006. 290-295.

Introduction

Ernie Davis was an African American football player born in New Salem Pennsylvania on 14th Dec 1939. He was an exceptional player born ahead of his time, as he stood out on the football field as the first African American to win the Heisman trophy in 1961, and to be chosen for the NFL. He played for Syracuse University during his college years, where he gained popularity through his achievements as a player in the football team. One such achievement was the 1959 Cotton Bowl Classic where his team won 23-14 over the University of Texas (Gallagher, 2008). In the following year, he was selected as the Cotton Bowl Classic’s most valuable player, and he continued with this outstanding record, to be the third leading rusher country-wide during his junior year at Syracuse University (Gallagher & Little, 2008). His career flourished in the late 50’s and early 60’s, lasting from 1959-1962 and dying in 1963 from Leukaemia. His premature death occurred after he had signed a lucrative professional football deal for a beginner, and robbed him of the chance of experiencing football as a professional player.

Main body

Unfortunately, Davis died without ever playing a match with his role model Jim Brown of Cleveland Browns. He had set his career in the footsteps of Jim Brown and he wore Brown’s jersey, number 44. He eventually got the nickname ‘Elmira Express’ attributed to his speed (Gallagher, 2008). However, Davis managed to achieve more than his role model did, as he became the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy. His role model Jim Brown had only ranked fifth in 1956, despite his outstanding year as a senior in Syracuse (Mieczkwoski, 2008). Brown had complained that his loss of the title was due to racism within the University that led to his unpopularity in the voting. Overall, Davis achieved in his sophomore year more than his role model ever did in his football career in college.

Just like Jim Brown, Ernie Davis’ career existed at a time when racism was still rampant in America, and there was heightened awareness with the civil rights movement and other anti-racism demonstrations at their peak. When he won the MVP trophy, the organizers informed his team that he could only attend the banquet to receive the trophy, but he would have to leave soon after (Selim, 2008). There are contradicting accounts about the banquet, with his fellow player John Brown narrating that they all attended the banquet, while others refute this claim and state that they rejected the invite on racial grounds. However, it was a more enlightened time unlike the era of Jim Brown, because Davis managed to win the Heisman trophy through popular vote. Five years earlier, Brown had failed to win sufficient votes despite his outstanding performance, but the civil rights movement had enlightened the nation and more white people had begun to have an open mind towards African Americans in society. There is even an account of a white child who claimed to be taking chocolate milk in order to become black like Ernie Davis (Selim, 2008).

Conclusion

He was the first African American and only SU player to acquire the greatest college football honor in Syracuse University as holder of the Heisman Trophy. More so, he was one of the players who led the SU football team to the National Championship, and his achievements while in SU went further, with him ranking 5th in the list of leading rushers countrywide, while still a junior. He was a maverick in SU football, and “he is currently ninth on Syracuse’s career rushing yards record list with 2,386 yards” (SUathletics, 2006). His final achievement was after his death when he was included in the Hall of Fame in 1979, marking him as one of the great sportsmen in American history.

References

Gallagher, C.R. (2008). The Express: The Ernie Davis Story. Random House Publishing Group.

Gallagher, C.R. & Little, F. (2008). Ernie Davis, the Elmira Express: The Story of a Heisman Trophy Winner. Bartleby Press.

Mieczkwoski, Y. (2008). “Why Ernie Davis Matters”. History News Network. Web.

Selim, J. (2008). “Ernie Davis’ Last Down”. CR. Web.

SUathletics (2006). Ernie Davis, Football, 1959-61. Web.

Out of a variety of inequality types existing, gender discrimination is probably the most aggravating one. Historically, women used to be considered as a weaker sex, and up until recently, they were not allowed to participate in political, social, and economic affairs at the same level and to the same extent as men. Even nowadays, some females suffer from a gender pay gap in many offices or experience discomfort at being treated as merely beautiful adornments to their husbands.

However, for the majority of women, the situation changed considerably after the initiation of the suffrage movement in the 19th century, which found its reflection in the women’s rights movement of the 20th and 21st centuries. One of the most prominent and inspiring activists of the latter is Gloria Steinem. Steinem is a feminist, a liberation leader, and a role model for many women whose right to equality she has been defending ardently for many years.

Steinem’s activity as a female rights activist began in 1960 when the USA started to be involved in a new wave of feminism. Numerous speeches, writings, and programs prepared by Gloria allowed her to challenge “many of society’s injustices” (Attebury 13). Through her active participation in the feminist movement, Steinem succeeded in highlighting the miseries of those living “on society’s fringes” (Attebury 13).

Despite other important achievements, such as fighting for professional and racial equality, Steinem has become most recognized for her work on defending women’s rights. Many people consider it Gloria’s accomplishment that a modern girl can grow up “to become anything she wants to be” (Attebury 13). While Steinem is one of the pioneers of the women’s rights movement, she was not the first one in her family to be a radical feminist.

Gloria’s paternal grandmother, Pauline, used to be an ardent supporter of women’s right to vote. Pauline was born in Poland, and she insisted on going to school despite her parents’ objections (Wittekind 21). She moved to the USA in 1887 after getting married, and there, she served as a leader in various community groups and organizations. It is possible to assume that the eagerness to help the less fortunate was inherited by Gloria from her grandmother. Another reason for the girl’s obsession with freedom was the lifestyle led by her family, the father of which enjoyed living on the road rather than staying in a conventional house (Marcello 11). Thus, Steinem’s determination to be independent and gain the same privilege for many others was nurtured in her since childhood.

Steinem became known as a fighter for females’ rights in her thirties. In 1968, when she was 34, Gloria attended the Democratic National Presidential Convention. In the next year, she became a “staunch” feminist after participating in the abortion speak-out (Marcello xiv). After these events, there was the acquaintance of Shirley Chisholm and Bella Abzug, who became her loyal colleagues and friends (Marcello 114). However, the most famous of them was Steinem, who was known for her refusal to tolerate inequality and the use of radical methods to prove her position.

Gloria realized the unfairness of men’s treatment of women at an early age when she saw how doctors dismissed her mother’s evident mental illness. The activist worked on topics that were not commonly discussed at the time. In 1962, she wrote about contraception, which became available to all females only in about a decade (Karbo). She spoke of abortions long before the topic was legally allowed to discuss. Steinem realized that race and class tended to “double and triple the degree of oppression” experienced by females (Karbo). She shared her own stories of not being trusted by landlords to rent an apartment due to being a woman. Most of all, however, Gloria pitied women of color since they realized that their sufferings were much more intense than those of white females.

While working for the Show magazine, Steiner participated in one of the most renowned undercover experiments, which she described in an article called “A Bunny’s Tale.” Gloria wanted to show how unbearably difficult life is for women working for Hugh Hefner at his Playboy Club (Marcello 79). Steiner described the terrible costumes females had to wear, which were accompanied by push-ups to make bosom look bigger.

There were also high heels which made one’s feet swollen by the end of the shift, Bunny ears, and a white cotton puff for a tail (Marcello 79). However, the outfit was not the worst part of the job. What Steinem wanted to show was the “pitfalls of the seemingly glamorous life” (Marcello 79). Bunnies were constantly sexually harassed, and men seemed not to consider them as human beings but rather as their toys. Gloria’s account of the experience raised a wave of fury among women, more and more of whom realized they were ready to defend their rights.

Throughout her long life, Gloria has initiated and participated in a vast number of activities aimed at gaining equality for both sexes in society. One of the most productive attempts was the initiation of the Ms. magazine, which was used for proclaiming her positions, as well as those of her supporters (Karbo). Steinem has traveled much, spreading the word on women’s rights and participating in conventions, meetings, and conferences.

She has published several books and has received awards for her achievements, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013 (Keppeler 23). Steinem is considered a “difficult woman” with her own classic “cool, calm, and witty” tone (Karbo). This woman has experienced many difficulties, but her enormous strength helped her overcome all of them.

One of Gloria’s features, which is usually treated as a benefit for a woman, is her beauty. For being too pretty, she used to be dismissed in many endeavors, including magazine founding, political activism, and investigative journalism (Karbo). However, it would not have been Gloria if she had given up, so she kept working on reaching her goals persistently and efficiently. Having spent many decades of dedicated work on attaining equal rights for women, Steinem became “the face” and “the voice” of feminism (Karbo).

Faludi mentioned that “there is only one Gloria, and someone with her combination of conviction, wit, smarts, and grace under fire doesn’t come along every day” (qtd. in Hepola). Indeed, Steinem is a unique personality whose contribution to the improvement of society’s core views on femininity cannot be overestimated.

The modern world has made many achievements in various spheres, including technology, medicine, and science. However, some crucial social aspects that have been bothering societies for centuries still have not found their complete resolution. Gender equality is one of such issues, and Gloria Steinem is one of the most dedicated activists of the movement for women’s rights. Remembering her efforts gives strengths and inspiration to new generations of activists.

Works Cited

Attebury, Nancy Garhan. Gloria Steinem: Champion of Women’s Rights. Compass Point Books, 2006.

Hepola, Sarah. “Gloria Steinem, a Woman Like No Other.” The New York Times. 2012. Web.

Karbo, Karen. “How Gloria Steinem Became the ‘World’s Most Famous Feminist’.” National Geographic. 2019. Web.

Keppeler, Jill. Inside the Women’s Rights Movement. Gareth Stevens Publishing, 2018.

Marcello, Patricia Cronin. Gloria Steinem: A Biography. Greenwood Press, 2004.

Wittekind, Erika. Gloria Steinem: Women’s Liberation Leader. ABDO Publishing Company, 2011.

Introduction

A role model refers to a person who can be emulated due to the influence he or she has on others. Therefore, positive role model as a communicator is a person who is well endowed with the ability to communicate ethically and with lots of academic integrity.

My role model

I have identified the current US president Barrack Obama as my role model as a communicator. His speeches are usually logical and not only ethical but also laced with lots of sense and persuasion to the audience. To begin with, he always maintains constant eye contact with the audience when talking. This is a very important quality bearing in mind that the audience wants to feel that the information being passed is equally important as they are. Additionally, regular eye contact while communicating ensures that both parties remain attentive throughout the conversion. President Barrack Obama is good at this. This was evident right from the time when he was campaigning for the Senator. The ability to speak well and in a catchy manner was indeed the real asset he has during the last Presidential elections.

Qualities of a good role model as a communicator

Another impressive quality of a role model as a communicator is taking time and avoiding interrupting a conversation while the other party talking. When speech is interrupted, it creates a bad impression of selfishness and inability to give chance to others (Stiff & Mongeau, 2002). As one avoids this, it is also imperative to speak fluently and in sentences that are complete. A conversation with broken sentences is more likely to distort and lose meaning. A good role model as a public communicator does not usually run through the speech but rather takes time to join one word to the other to make fluent and logical sentences.

Moreover, audibility is another quality of a good communicator. It is imperative to note that in a case whereby the speaker is not audible to the audience, the entire rationale behind that piece of communication will not be achieved. A good public communicator will take note of this even while attending a huge gathering. There is often an elaborate body language from the recipient of the information which can direct the speaker to adjust the volume (Callison, 2001. Additionally, the voice of the speaker should be clear as well as avoid boredom which may easily piss off the audience. To avoid boredom, a good public communicator can opt to use tone variation in the speech. This will not only capture the attention of the recipient of the information but also generate interest throughout the entire conversion. To improve this part of the conversion, the speaker should avoid being arrogant and instead respond to the audience’s questions (Stiff & Mongeau, 2002).

My role model as a public communicator is very intelligent and ethical when presenting his speech to the public; he sticks to a single topic throughout. This ensures that the audience is not mixed with the speech due to its complicated nature. A public communicator should be keen on the speech being offered and ensure that it does not deviate from the original intention. In other words, the speaker should always stick to the context of the speech (Stiff & Mongeau, 2002).

Finally, a public communicator should tackle each point being addressed straightforwardly without being ambiguous in the conversation (Callison, 2001). For points that require further verbal communication away from the written points, the speaker needs to think before giving out any word. This forms an internal assessment part whereby any information is thoroughly thought out before being issued.

References

1. Callison, C. (2001). Do PR practitioners have a PR problem? The effect of associating a source with public relations and client-negative news on audience perception of credibility, Journal of Public Relations Research, 13, 3, 219-234.
2. Stiff, J.B., & Mongeau, P.A. (2002). Persuasive Communication, Second Edition, The Guilford Press, New York

Abstract

In the introduction it is affirmed that celebrities have positive elements needed to become role models, hence explaining why most of them inspire others. In the body section, media personalities Angelina Jolie and Oprah Winfrey were analysed.

Angelina has strong values, which can be seen in her personal life as an international adopting parent and also in her role as a UN goodwill ambassador. Oprah’s success in her career and her philanthropic work teaches others how to be professionals and how to use their wealth selflessly.

These celebrities still have some flaws; but they have not let their past get in the way of their societal impact. In the conclusion, it was affirmed that celebrities’ accomplishments are easily identifiable to the public, as is the case with Angelina and Oprah, and this makes them good role models.

Introduction

Since celebrities demonstrate what it means to be an extraordinary media personality, then they serve as exemplary role models. Angelina Jolie and Oprah are positive role models as seen through their career accomplishments and charity initiatives; they did not let their dark past defuse the change they instated in society.

Celebrities as role models

Some celebrities illuminate their position as media personalities through the right behaviour and attitude. A role model is one whose attitude and behaviour conform to that which people expect of a person in that role. Actress Angelina Jolie exemplifies this positive role through involvement in humanitarian work and her personal life. She has worked as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations for several years.

Jolie took the personal initiative to contact the UNHCR concerning troubled regions of the world. She visited several African refugee camps in 2000. As a field agent of the UN, Jolie went to Pakistan and Cambodia to do mission work in refugee camps.

These trips started after she became the goodwill ambassador in 2001. The celebrity has visited approximately thirty countries in an attempt to create awareness about the plight of refugees. She has brought media attention back to forgotten civil conflicts. Furthermore, Jolie covers her own expenses during these missions, and shares the same deplorable conditions with other UN workers.

She undertakes these humanitarian missions bravely as seen through her entrance into conflict zones (Allen-Mills, 2008). Some celebrities may refrain from visiting dangerous places like Darfur and Afghanistan, but Jolie has not shied away from these regions. Her attitude and behaviour as a goodwill ambassador are exemplary and typical of a good role model.

Celebrities can inspire others to imitate them through their values and goals. In addition to visiting refugees, Jolie has done a lot of media campaigns and lobbying work. The celebrity even made a documentary about poverty-stricken communities in East Africa. She has worked with politicians and other bodies in Washington.

Jolie launched several foundations intended on helping children in conflict zones and those in the US who are immigrants. The actress’s long list of humanitarian awards testifies to her commitment and passion for people in need. Angelina Jolie’s accomplishments in this area illuminate the positive part that celebrities can play as role models.

She has dedicated her life to making the lives of others better, and this is something that the public can emulate (McFay, 2005). Society can also draw positive lessons from Jolie’s personal life.

The actress has adopted three children from three poor countries; that is, Cambodia, Vietnam and Ethiopia. Her international adoptions teach people how to surpass cultural and geographical boundaries in order to unite the human race. These actions reflect the values of self sacrifice and care that others can imitate.

Role models do not have to be perfect; they only have to do their best in prevailing circumstances. Angelina Jolie has had a dark past since she experimented with drugs during her youth. Furthermore, the celebrity had shaky relationships in her 20s and 30s.

Other people also claim that her humanitarian work keeps her away from her 6 children. All these imperfections illustrate that she is only human, so they do not mirror her accomplishments.

Some celebrities inspire others through their career accomplishments, and Oprah Winfrey is one such person. Her world famous show highlighted numerous instances of goodwill and care for others. She defied numerous odds to become the richest African American in the US.

Oprah overcame child abuse, poverty and negativity to make it as a talk-show host (Avtalion, 1998). Furthermore, she has encouraged literacy through formation of her own book club. This media personality has also promoted health and fitness by launching O-Magazine as well as talking about health issues on her show. In fact, this emphasis on good health and nutrition led to Dr. Phil’s and Dr. Oz’s careers.

The latter professionals have spearheaded the fight against obesity, psychological issues and lifestyle diseases in the US. Furthermore, Oprah has taught people about the importance of spirituality. She has done this in a way that includes even the non-religious. Oprah’s role as a female entrepreneur is also inspiring to many.

The media guru used exceptional and bold tactics to buy the Oprah show and own her own network. She has created a franchise of inspirational programs and businesses. Young people can definitely look up to her when starting their careers. Many women also admire her as an influential figure in the business world.

Since celebrities make a lot of money, they can serve as examples on what to do with immense wealth, which makes them role models for others. Oprah has engaged in a lot of charitable activities. The former talk show host opened a South African Leadership Academy for underprivileged girls in 2007.

She started by donating 40 million to the charity and has given an opportunity to children who would never have gotten such a chance. Oprah has also made donations to various charities. One of the most notable ones was Project Cuddle, which focused on the plight of abandoned babies.

Furthermore, the media personality has encouraged and publicised various causes on her show and on other media outlets (Quast, 2011). Oprah’s example illustrates that celebrates can inspire others to use their wealth selflessly.

One may question a celebrity’s ability to become a role model based on his or her personal life. For instance, Oprah has never been married nor had children. Therefore, one may doubt her ability to act as a role model since families are society’s basic unit.

Conclusion

Celebrities have all the elements needed to become positive role models, hence explaining why most of them inspire others. Two female media personalities, Angelina Jolie and Oprah Winfrey, have proved this assertion by their relentless drive in their careers and their philanthropic work.

Angelina’s values and use of her role as a media personality have inspired others. Oprah’s career accomplishments and charity work teach others how to be professionals and how to use their wealth selflessly.

These celebrities still have some flaws; nonetheless, their imperfections do not discredit all the positive work they have done. Celebrities’ lives are easily identifiable to the public and can thus make them good role models.

References

Allen-Mills, T. (2008). The other side of Angelina Jolie. The Sunday Times, p. 13.

Avtalion, O. (1998). Oprah Winfrey: A role model. The New York Times, p B8.

McFay, E. (2005). Angelina Jolie: Angel in disguise. California, LA: Icon Press.

Quast, L. (2011). What career women can learn from Oprah Winfrey. Forbes, p. 4.

Parents are means of structuring their child’s future. They have a very crucial role to play in their child’s growth and his/her conduct. During the days when schooling was considered to be accessible only to the children of the opulent, those who were not privileged enough to go to school, remained at home and helped their parents in daily chores.

Such children used to emulate their parents in their deeds and conduct because they were of the opinion that their fathers have done great in life (How do parents influence children in life, 2010). It is a well researched and established fact that children, whose fathers take active part in their upbringing, inculcate most of their habits; irrespective of the habits being good or bad (20 Reasons why your child needs you to be an active father, 2000).

But during the years, owing to the numerous opportunities available, parents have started devoting more time towards their work. Moreover, education has been simplified and has easy access. Children have started going to schools and as such, both parents and their children don’t have enough time to spend with each other.

But still there are parents who devote time towards their children and try and teach them. It has been observed that children, who have their parents’ guidance and participation in their school activities, achieve more in life as compared to those who totally depend on their schools.

Irrespective of their gender, children need constructive and encouraging role models (male or female). Unlike the earlier days, when children did not have much exposure to the outer world, now-a-days, by virtue of the available resources like internet, children have a larger world. Now, they are able to read about and listen to several successful people from different fields such as entertainment, science, education, etc.

It has been observed that children get fascinated by such people and try to emulate them (Rush, 2014). Children watch such celebrities on the television, magazines, advertisements, newspapers, etc. Moreover, it has become a daily routine sort of thing.

When the children watch the celebrities on a daily basis, they ought to be inspired or fascinated by them. So we see that the scenario has changed completely. Earlier, where a child’s role model was his/her father, now, due to exposure to the outer world, the preference has changed.

But if we think it logically, this trend of the children’s preference is not good for their future. Children tend to think about them even when they are not watching the television or reading a magazine (Teens and celebrities, 2014). It is human tendency to run after whatever seems to be good. But we forget the price that we might have to pay for this.

Like for example, what celebrities do on the television is part of their job and they get paid for that. But when children emulate them, they have to spend from their own pocket (indirectly from their parents’ pocket). Moreover, it is not necessary that if any particular celebrity has achieved success, each one of us will also be successful in the same manner. We have our own limitations and we should teach our children the importance of such limitations.

Being disciplined is one of the most critical requirements of being successful. Similar to the habit of achieving targets, discipline also doesn’t come instantly. It has to be inculcated since childhood. Parents can teach discipline to their child by following certain rules. They can have strict time frames for different activities of their child at home such as study hours, watching the television programmes, having supper and other meals, and going to bed. A sense of responsibility can also be imposed on the child by allocating to him/her certain house-hold tasks.

Achieving one’s goals in life is a very important factor of success. Success comes to those who achieve their aims and objectives. Even though there are no fixed parameters for achieving success, it solely depends on the hard work, enthusiasm and motivation of a person. These qualities don’t come instantly but have to be nurtured since childhood.

So parents, who want their child to succeed, should start giving him/her small targets to be completed in a given time-frame. Gradually, the child will be habituated to achieve targets and this will be helpful to a great extent in his/her future life, may it be his/her education or professional career.

Simply by getting involved in their child’s school activities, parents cannot guarantee their child’s success. Parents should be well acquainted with the ongoing educational process and various courses available. Information on when to go for any particular course is very crucial. As for example, parents must be aware of any courses that their child might require before going to the college.

There are various pre-college courses that improve the grasping power of students. Further, a child will not be able to tell as to what he/she wants to achieve in life. But parents, by knowing his/her interests, can assess their child’s inclination and can further encourage him/her to pursue those interests.

References

20 Reasons why your child needs you to be an active father. (2000). Web.

How do parents influence children in life. (2010). Web.

Rush, M. (2014). Parent vs. Celebrity influence. Web.

Teens and celebrities. (2014). Web.

Identity in Brian Ascalon Roley’s American Son

Filipinos migrate to the United States in order to become closer to the better life, to realise their dreams, and receive the chance to change their reality. In fact, Filipinos become the victims of the racial discrimination and begin to suffer from the impossibility to determine their national and cultural identity. From this point, those children who are born in multicultural families also begin to suffer from inability to find the right place in the society where people are not ready to discuss them as the real Americans.

Furthermore, the problem of identity and transnationalism is often associated with a range of other problems typical for teenagers and young adults. Tomas and Gabe are the protagonists of Brian Ascalon Roley’s American Son. These young men experience the difficulties of being the children of the American father and Filipino mother while living in the USA and observing the other Americans’ making their dreams real.

The situation is complicated with the fact that boys are brought up without their father. Thus, Tomas and Gabe have no opportunities to orient to the male role model developed in the family because those behaviour patterns which they remember as typical for their father are rather violent and racist, and as a result, boys have the erroneous vision of masculinity.

It is possible to pay attention to Tomas and Gabe’s visions of masculinity referring to the ideas developed by Tomas in relation to the question, to the opinion which is characteristic for Gabe, and to the male role model which is typical for the behaviour and attitudes of the boys’ father.

On the one hand, the image of Tomas can be discussed as the embodiment of masculinity because of his appearance. Thus, the young man’s muscles are covered with “gangster tattoos”, his head is “shaved down to stubble”, and moreover, Tomas is “really half white, half Filipino but dresses like a Mexican” (Roley 15).

On the other hand, the brutal behaviour of Tomas and his attitude toward his relatives and other people cannot be considered as the embodiment of the real masculinity. Tomas is inclined to misinterpret the notion of masculinity and act as a cruel man. The actions of Tomas can be explained from the point of his desire to determine his role in the society which is rather holistic in relation to the minorities. Moreover, brutality is the only behaviour pattern which is associated with the boys’ father.

Tomas as the elder brother should become the main man in the family. That is why, Gabe is affected significantly by the particular features of the elder brother’s influence (Roley 18). Later, Gabe even reflects the peculiarities of the young man’s behaviour in spite of the previous disapproval of the position supported by Tomas.

In spite of the fact that the life conditions and environments are the same in relation to both brothers, Gabe grows as a quiet boy who does not want to create new problems for his mother because she has to bring up two boys without the help of her husband. However, Gabe also has no correct vision of masculinity.

Gabe is inclined to act under the influence of his brother Tomas, and his image becomes the embodiment of masculinity for Gabe in spite of all his attempts to reject these behaviour patterns. Gabe experiences brutality, hostility, and discrimination almost in all the spheres of his life.

From this perspective, the absence of the male role model and the racial issues make the young man find his own identity and place within the American society. The particular features of the family relations and the problematic racial questions affect Gabe’s vision of masculinity which becomes the reflection of the visions which are characteristic for Tomas.

Tomas and Gabe are brought up by the Filipino woman, but they do not want their peers to see her communicating with the boys. The problem is in the boys’ perception of their identity and ethnicity. Nevertheless, the problem is also in the vision of the role of woman in the house and in society. This vision is the heritage of observing the definite male role model used by the boys’ father.

Gabe describes the situation when “dad stood over her making fun of Filipinos and her family and looked as if he was about to hit her, and my brother dragged him outside and tossed him onto the acorn” (Roley 24). Tomas and Gabe cannot define masculinity correctly because even those insignificant details remembered about the attitudes of the father toward the Filipinos and women cannot provide the boys with the examples of the behaviour which should be characteristic for the real man.

As a result, Tomas and Gabe experience a lot of difficulties, trying to find their place in the American society. These young men are not ready to adopt their ethnicity, and they are inclined to feel shame because of their mother Asian ethnicity (Roley 24). Furthermore, Tomas and Gabe have no male role model to help them to survive in the world full of ill-wishers. The only way to survive in this society is to act brutally and reveal the masculinity with references to violent actions.

That is why, Gabe is inclined to follow the life of violence because this model is more familiar for him depending on the experience of his father and brother. The inability of many Filipinos as any other migrants to build the life of their dream within the American society makes them feel frustrated, especially in comparison with the more successful representatives of the American majority. Thus, aggression becomes the only way to demonstrate the people’s dissatisfaction regarding the situation.

In Brian Ascalon Roley’s American Son, Tomas and Gabe have no opportunity to reflect the male role model of their father because the boys are not brought by the man. That is why, boys are unable to create their vision of masculinity which can be based on the positive examples of their father behaviours. As a result, Tomas and Gabe develop their vision of masculinity with references to the realities of the American society which is rather unfriendly and even hostile toward Filipinos.

Thus, Tomas is inclined to mask his problems choosing brutality and referring to the ‘gangster’ image, and Gabe intends to hide his difficulties with identity using the advantages of the non-Asian appearance. The young men’ behaviours cannot be discussed as the reflection or embodiment of masculinity, but they are affected by the absence of the father in the boys’ life.

Works Cited

Roley, Brian Ascalon. American Son. USA: W. W. Norton & Company, 2001. Print.

Introduction

Kids need positive role models to become positive when they grow up. The role model can shape that way of a kid’s thinking. The role model can be a famous figure, a celebrity or even someone in the family. This essay will talk about 3 essays from 3 authors who have role models in their families. 1^st essay is ‘A Partial Remembrance of a Puerto Rican Childhood’ by Judith Ortiz Cofer, and the central woman is Judith’s Grandmother. 2^nd essay is ‘Grandmother’s Victory’ by Maya Angelou, and the central woman is Maya’s grandmother. 3^rd essay is ‘Mother Tongue’ by Amy Tan, and the central woman is Tan’s mother. The essay will talk about the similar and different values in each of the central women, their motivations, and what can be discovered in each essay. It will also explain how these women are similar.

The Central Woman in ‘A Partial Remembrance of a Puerto Rican Childhood’

The grandmother has 2 different sides in her personality. The First side is the powerful woman. Judith Ortiz Cofer calls her grandmother “Mama” (14). Cofer says that her mother “did not possess Mama’s matriarchal power to command and keep everyone’s attention”. Everybody listens to her when she speaks (Cofer, p. 15).

The other side of her personality is the merciful woman. She always used to tell stories about unfortunate people so that females in the family learn lessons (Cofer, pp. 14-20). For example, the story of “Maria La Loca”, she was a woman who was fooled by a man who promised to marry her. She lost her beauty and sanity (Cofer, pp. 15-20).

For Cofer, her grandmother was more merciful than her mother. The mother was strict with her kids and was always watching them because their father was not around. The grandmother gave the kids more freedom (Cofer, p.18). Cofer loved playing at her grandmother’s house during “the afternoon when the men were still at work and the boys had gone to play serious baseball at the park” (Cofer, p. 19).

What seems to be motivating the grandmother is her role and responsibility as a grandmother. She must be merciful and share her experiences with young females.

What can be discovered in this essay is that it is important to be merciful with kids, but some strictness is necessary. Also, it is important to tell real stories about real people so that that the kids become more careful in life.

The Central Woman in ‘Grandmother’s Victory’

The grandmother has two different sides in her personality. She is strict with her grandchildren when it comes to cleanness. She forces the kids to “wash faces, arms, necks, legs, and feet” every night even if the weather is too cold (Angelou 1). About her grandmother’s strictness, Angelou says the following:

Momma was famous for pulling the quilts off after we had fallen asleep to examine our feet. If they weren’t clean enough for her, she took the switch (she kept one behind the bedroom door for emergencies) and woke up the offender with a few aptly placed burning reminders.

The other side of the grandmother was patient, forgiving, and merciful. She controlled herself when some girls came down to her and made fun of her. She didn’t beat them or yell at them. She stayed like that until the girls got bored. When the girls were leaving, the grandmother said to them: “Bye, Miz Helen, ‘bye, Miz Ruth, ‘bye, Miz Eloise” (Angelou, p. 3).

What seems to be motivating the grandmother is religion. Angelou says that her grandmother used to tell her “that not only was cleanliness next to Godliness, dirtiness was the inventor of misery” (p. 1). Also, while the girls were mocking her she was hymning. Angelou heard her grandmother saying: “Bread of Heaven, Bread of Heaven, Feed me till I want no more” (p. 3). And after the girls left, she said: “Glory, glory, hallelujah, when I lay my burden down” (Angelou, p. 4).

What can be discovered in this essay is that it is necessary to be patient with kids. They are young and can do foolish things. Also, if a child is always treated with the respect he will respect others as a result.

The Central Woman in ‘Mother Tongue’

The mother has two different sides. Sometimes she is an impatient woman. Amy Tan went with her mother to the hospital because her mother wanted to see the results of her latest “CAT scan”. In the hospital, they told her that they cannot find the scan results. She got angry and refused to leave until the doctor came and explained everything to Amy. It was not easy to calm Amy’s mother down (Tan, p. 2).

The other side of her was patient with people’s rudeness. About her mother, Tan says that “people in department stores, at banks, and at restaurants did not take her seriously, did not give her good service, pretended not to understand her, or even acted as if they did not hear her” (Tan, p. 2).

What seems to be motivating the mother is her awareness of her “broken” English (Tan 2). She uses her English with her family and her society (Tan, p. 1).

What can be discovered from this essay is that everybody must accept what he is. Everybody must try to face life even if he finds some difficulties.

How Are These Three Women Similar Or Different?

All three women represent role models to the three authors. Cofer and Angelou, both look at their grandmothers as their role models because they were merciful. Both grandmothers were strict when strictness was necessary.

Tan’s mother is a different case. Tan considers her mother her role model because she is the woman who raised her. She accepts her mother for what she is (Tan 1). At the same time, Tan feels embarrassed by her mother’s English. She blames her mother’s language for affecting her “results on achievement tests, I.Q. tests, and the SAT” (Tan 2).

Thesis

Mercy and patience always have an influence on children’s minds. A woman can be considered a role model to a girl in the same family if she is merciful and doesn’t complain about her behaviors. In this case, the kid enjoys freedom. That’s what happened in the case of Judith Ortiz Cofer and her grandmother. The grandmother let the little girl play in the house with no complaints. About her grandmother, Cofer says: “I saw her as my liberator and my model” (Cofer 18).

Women must try to show girls that patience is the best way to face rudeness. Maya Angelou was shocked when her grandmother preferred to be nice to people who showed no respect for her (Angelou 3).

A female role model doesn’t have to be perfect in everything. It’s enough for a female to become a role model if she has one good thing about her.

A Response Regarding the Strong Female Role Models

It would be better if the female role model was a member of the family. In many cases, the grandmothers are better than mothers in dealing with girls. Grandmothers have longer experience in life and they have experience in raising kids.

Conclusion

All 3 essays showed that women’s actions have effects on girls’ way of thinking in the future. Little girls are influenced by compassion, not violence. Even the mistakes of female role models can have an impact on girls’ minds and their future goals.

Works Cited

1. Angelou, Maya. “Grandmother’s Victory.” 75 Readings Plus, 7th ed. Ed. Santi V. Buscemi and Charlotte Smith. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2004. 14-20.
2. Cofer, Judith O. Silent Dancing: A Partial Remembrance of a Puerto Rican Childhood. Texas: Arte Publico Press, 1990.
3. Tan, Amy. “Mother Tongue.” The Writer’s Presence: A Pool of Readings. Ed. Donald McQuade and Robert Atwan. New York: Bedford St. Martin’s, 2006. 290-295.

Introduction

Nelson Mandela was born in 1918 at Qunu. Mandela is widely known for his charismatic leadership skills. His political career ambitions started while at university when he realized the unjust nature in which the African society was. The blacks were denied the due chances both economically and politically. This disappointed Nelson Mandela which triggered his ambitions to join politics to fight for his people.

Discussion

Thesis Statement

Throughout his leadership period, Nelson Mandela demonstrated excellent leadership skills which went beyond the political role. He committed his whole life fighting for the rights of the South Africans who suffered from discrimination. As a political activist, Nelson Mandela fought for his people which led him to be a political prisoner. Nelson Mandela struggled until he became the first black president of South Africa. These achievements by Nelson Mandela make him qualify to be one of the greatest men who have ever lived in history.

Fight against Apartheid (Discrimination)

Mandela’s early days in politics coincided with very high levels of apartheid in South Africa. Mandela was very disappointed by the system since it was characterized by high levels of discrimination (Glad & Blanton, 1997). Apartheid was the main vice in South Africa which incited Mandela to engage in endless struggles.

Mandela has been imprisoned for about thirty years for opposing apartheid system in South Africa (Ryan, 2011). During the apartheid system, the whites oppressed the blacks through their discriminative policies. In 1944, Nelson Mandela became an active leader of the American National Congress (ANC). This was just his first move to fight for the people’s freedom.

South Africa’s apartheid system was one of the worst racism and discrimination scenarios that have ever taken place in the world. However, Mandela managed to oppose the system courageously and persistently despite of the threats by the white leaders (Lieberfeld, 2003).

Therefore, Mandela has shown excellent and selfless leadership which cannot be found in many leaders. Most leaders are driven by their own benefits but Mandela was determined to undergo any torture for the sake of his people. Through the African National Congress party, Mandela was determined to undergo any form of suffering for the sake of the South Africans blacks who were facing a lot of suffering at the hand of apartheid.

Political Activist (African National Congress)

In most cases, many political parties in Africa which fought for the rights of the blacks were characterized by violent activities. Therefore, it was expected that Mandela’s political party (ANC) would be even more violent bearing in the mind the extent to which apartheid had reached in South Africa. However, Mandela’s movement was characterized by non-violent protests. However, the younger nationalists became discouraged because of lack of progress in the initial stages (Ryan, 2011).

Together with his colleagues, Mandela believed that incorporating violence in their activities would trigger police’s brutality and this would bring suffering to South African blacks (Glad & Blanton, 1997). In case they engaged in violent activities, they new that the white leaders would take that opportunity to finish their people.

This was the main reason why they refrained from engaging themselves in violent demonstrations. According to Lieberfeld (2003), Mandela demonstrated peace in every step he made. His struggle against apartheid in earlier days was characterized by peace.

Mandela was one of those kinds of leaders who never gave up. He was rarely intimidated by any resistance to make his moves. He persistently moved forward. For instance, later on after joining ANC, Mandela decided to join the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) (Ryan, 2011). This is because ANC was making very little progress during that time. Due to his thirst to save his people from the chains of apartheid, Mandela joined this party as it was more vibrant than ANC. This group was composed of the members of ANC who were more militant.

In 1949, ANCYL organized strikes and boycotts across the country (Ryan, 2011). These actions were directed to force for changes in policies which oppressed the Africans in South Africa. In 1951, Nelson Mandela was elected as the head of this political party in the country. Soon after being elected the leader of this group, Mandela initiated a Defiance campaign which was aimed at triggering a massive resistance towards discriminative policies. This was his next move after their initial moves yielded little results.

Due to his perpetual resistance to the prevailing system and organizing of boycotts and strikes, Mandela was arrested in 1952 (Ryan, 2011). However, Mandela won that time as his sentence was suspended some time later.

However, he was neither allowed to attend any public gathering nor attend ANC meetings. These restrictions were aimed at minimizing his interactions with the public to avoid further incitation. However, Mandela’s journey did not stop hear as many would have thought. This encounter just boosted her determination to pursue his goals.

To defend the people who were persecuted in the apartheid system, Mandela opened a law which defended the convicts. Later, Mandela and some other leaders were charged of treason. This case was later dropped. However, most of Mandela’s time was wasted as he was sometimes forced to make many appearances before the court. Despite of these commitments, Mandela still continued to fight four the equality in South Africa.

Underground Movement

On realizing that non-violent resistance was not yielding any positive results, Mandela decided to adopt violence in his fight against apartheid. For instance, sixty nine people were killed while resisting for anti apartheid rule which restricted the movement of the blacks in South Africa.

This incident made Mandela to change his strategy of non-violent resistance to more harsh reaction. This is because the rate of discrimination was rising even after their efforts instead of falling. In connection to this, ANC commenced adopting armed resistance (Ryan, 2011).

After the banning of their party, Mandela with the support of other leaders formed an underground group. Through this group, Mandela and his colleagues targeted any official symbol of Apartheid and the government in their targets through sabotage. On seeing the extent to which apartheid had reached in South Africa, Nelson Mandela decided to travel across the African countries and Europe to seek support as well as learning the tactics of guerilla warfare (Ryan, 2011).

Therefore, Mandela realized the importance of the support from other countries in his struggle against apartheid (Glad & Blanton, 1997). Unfortunately, Mandela was arrested soon after going back to his country after completing his mission. He was charged for his involvements with the underground group and for moving out side the country without a legal prescription. This cost, Mandela five years in prison.

Despite of these sufferings which Mandela underwent during his struggle against discrimination towards the black South Africans, his stand was never shaken. During his trial, Mandela confirmed not to be intimidated by anything from his fight against apartheid (Ryan, 2011). He also explained the main aims of the newly formed group Umkhonto we Sizwe. Mandela together with his group narrowly escaped execution during these trials (Ryan, 2011). However, they were given a life imprisonment.

In 1964, Mandela was sent to Robben Island where he was supposed to spend the rest of his life according to the judgment. Later, he was kept confined alone in fear that he will intimidate his colleagues. All this suffering never shook Mandela’s ambitions. His people went to the extent of referring to him as a silent suffering martyr (Ryan, 2011).

Road to Freedom and Accomplishments

Later in 1984, negotiations for Mandela’s release started on condition that he will allow reallocation of South African blacks to specific places. However, Mandela rejected all these offers. This displays a strong character of determined and selfless leader who was ready to sacrifice himself for the sake of his people. This clearly shows that Mandela was not after any material gain in his struggle for equality.

Under the pressure of the international community and the black South Africans, the head of the National Party F.W. de Klerk softened his stand (Ryan, 2011). Restrictions on ANC were lifted and most laws which were discriminative were dissolved. After continued pressure, Mandela was released in 1990.

Soon after being released, Mandela continued with his fight for freedom. He was engaged in negotiations with de Klerk form ma democratic government. In 1993, Mandela was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize (Ryan, 2011). This was just three years after being released.

Through Mandela’s efforts, South African got the first chance to vote freely without impediments which mostly favored the whites. Mandela was finally elected the president of South Africa in 1994 under the ANC party. On becoming, the president of South Africa, Mandela came up with strategies to unite people and also released those imprisoned during the apartheid system through amnesty (Ryan, 2011).

From there, Mandela has received various awards for his good work to the community. For instance, he received Presidential Medal of Freedom from the former United States president Bush. Mandela was also determined in the fight against AIDs as well as care for the AIDs victims.

Summary and Conclusion

From this discussion, it can clearly be seen that Mandela is really a leader to be emulated. Throughout his leadership, he has demonstrated courage, humility, patience, perseverance, and determination, a combination of character traits which is very rare in many leaders. He persistently fought against discrimination in South Africa despite of the difficulties he faced. Mandela faced police brutality and imprisonment for about thirty years but was never discouraged from pursuing his goals.

This discussion has also indicated that Mandela opted for violence after the peaceful demonstrations proved futile. This indicates that he was a humble reader who looked beyond the leadership boundaries. He considered every move he made taking into consideration the end results. Although he had the power to use violence from beginning of his struggle, he avoided that.

Mandela’s leadership teaches us that one should never be discouraged from pursuing his or her goals despite of the conditions through which they pass. We should also not lose hope for whichever time period this may take. Mandela spent many years in jail but he never buried his hope.

Reference List

Glad, B. & Blanton, R. (1997). F.W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela: a study in cooperative transformational leadership. Presidential Studies Quarterly, Vol. 27, 1997.

Lieberfeld, D. (2003). ‘Nelson Mandela: Partisan and Peacemaker.’ Negotiation Journal. Volume 19, Number 3, 229-250, DOI: 10.1023/A:1024629628402

Ryan, J. (2011). Nelson Mandela. Nelson Mandela (Great Neck Publishing), 1. Web.

In the past, I had often wondered why some people born with a silver spoon in their mouth have ended leading nondescript lies or have become failures; while others with even no “spoon” to speak of, have reaped success with a capital S. Now I know, after reading about the life of Oprah Winfrey, activist, actress, producer, reporter, TV talk show host, a national celebrity.

Ophrah Gail Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954, in Kosciusko, Mississippi. Even as a baby, she was faced with what her biographers have called a “mountain of obstacles.” She was poor, black, and female; her parents were teenage and unwed. Her mother, Vernita Lee, was a housemaid and her father was a barber.

The young Oprah was raised on a farm by her grandmother, and she maintains that the care her grandmother gave her early on probably saved her life. She began reading aloud and reciting sermons at the tender age of three. More parents should be like Oprah’s granny, who often said she was “gifted,” and the child took it to mean that she was special. This praise was enough to help Oprah endure the hardships she had to go through when she went to live with her mother. A little praise can go a long, long way. Parents should refrain from dishing out to their children such remarks as, “How many times have I told you not to….” This can be highly disconcerting and discouraging to the youngster. It only serves to lower his self-esteem.

After a troubled adolescence in the small farming community where she next lived, she was raped by a number of male relatives and friends of her mother. Perhaps it would have been better had she reported the abuses to the proper authorities since those men were criminally liable, but she didn’t know any better. Instead, she held the anger and the pain inside and ran away.

Before she finally gave up her wild behavior, she became pregnant and gave birth to a stillborn baby boy. This incident devastated her and prompted her to turn her life around. Today, we may avert this sorry state of affairs by having our adolescents join clubs such as the “Say No To Sex and Drugs” kind in which the youngster (girls) are taught by qualified lecturers the art of self-defense and the dangers of drugs and sex.

Oprah’s second chance came when she was sent to live with her father. He insisted on her adhering to the discipline he imposed on her. As a result, she earned high grades in school and read a book every week.

At the age of nineteen, Oprah landed her first job as a reporter for a Nashville radio station. Not long after, she entered Tennessee State University to study Radio and TV Broadcasting. Life in the university was not without its glorious moments. Endowed with good looks, Oprah entered several pageants and won the titles of “Miss Black Nashville” and “Miss Tennessee.” Oprah teaches young people that it is not enough to immerse oneself in books and studios. Life must have its light moments too.

In 1976, Oprah moved to Baltimore to host the TV Chat show People are Talking. Eight years after, she hosted her own morning show, AM Chicago. Her major competitor then was Phil Donahue. Several months later, she had 100,000 more viewers than Phil Donahue. Oprah’s success in radio and TV broadcasting is attributed to her open, warm-hearted personal style. All who work along this line can learn from her example. Oprah’s success led to a role in the film, The Color Purple, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Winfrey launched the Oprah Winfrey Show in 1986 as a nationally syndicated program, and the show grossed $125 million after one year. Unlike others who stop after their first successful project, Oprah went on to open a miniseries, The Women of Brewsters’ Place. She also signed a multi-picture contract with Disney. Her life shows us that ambitions and hard work pay off.

Forbes magazine adjudged Oprah to be the richest African American of the 20^th century and the world’s only Black billionaire for three years running. Life Magazine dubbed her the most influential woman of her generation. In 2005, Business Week proclaimed her the greatest Black philanthropist in American history.

In 1994, President Clinton signed a bill into law that Winfrey proposed in Congress, creating a nationwide database of convicted child abusers. This is probably a positive offshoot of the molestation inflicted on her as a child. The poverty she experienced in her youth may also have prompted her to help further the education of poor but talented black young women and to found a girls’ school in January 2007. This school, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, is located on a 52-acre campus in Africa.

Oprah Winfrey has come a long way from being a poor, black farm girl from Mississippi to a national celebrity by her own ambition, courage, hard work, and faith in herself. Her life is a beautiful example for not only the underprivileged black youth to follow but for everyone as well.

She has managed to transcend her poverty, sex, and color to emerge a victor with flying colors. Her life reminds me of the poem “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley:

“I am the master of my fate, I am the Captain of my soul.”

References

The Age of the Female Icon. Web.