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Oprah Winfrey gave a heartwarming and inspiring speech at the 2018 Golden Globes

Oprah Winfrey has been in the social spotlight since the debut of the Oprah Winfrey Show on September 8, 1986. Growing up, the show was a popular picture taking up my television screen. For as long as I can remember, I have been inspired and empowered by Oprah, her show and her social involvement.

That opinion did not change with the Golden Globe speech she delivered on Jan. 7.

Winfrey began her speech by sharing a childhood memory of sitting on her mother’s floor, watching Sidney Poitier receive an Oscar. This inspired her because she “had never seen a black man being celebrated like that.”

After giving thanks to those close to her, Winfrey thanked the press, acknowledging the great pressure being placed on the press in today’s climate. She shared that “it’s the insatiable dedication to uncovering the absolute truth that keeps us from turning a blind eye to corruption and to injustice.”

The essence of her speech, however, is the concept of speaking your truth. “…what I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most valuable tool we all have,” she said.

Winfrey wanted to empower women and girls as she has felt empowered by so many before her. She even thanked all women in her speech. “I want tonight to express my gratitude to all the women who have endured years of abuse and assault because they, like my mother, had children to feed and bills to pay and dreams to pursue.”

Following this statement, she shared the story of a young Recy Taylor, who was brutally raped, beaten and left on the sidewalk by a group of white men. Winfrey shares Taylor’s story, highlighting her strength to come forward to the NAACP, despite the threats given to her by her assailants. Winfrey then goes on to talk about Rosa Parks, who was the lead on Taylor’s case, then years later refused to give up her seat on a bus.

In closing those stories, Winfrey goes on to talk about the systemic oppression of women in our society. “[Taylor] lived as we all have lived, too many years in a culture broken by brutally powerful men,” Winfrey said. “For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dared to speak the truth to the power of those men.”

Winfrey closes her speech by sharing the analogy that a new day is on the horizon. “And when that new day finally dawns,” Winfrey said, “it will be because of a lot of magnificent women … and some pretty phenomenal men, fighting hard to make sure that they become the leaders who take us to the time when nobody ever has to say ‘Me Too’ again.”

Winfrey’s speech was packed with personal narrative, historical context and current societal and social issues. It would have been so easy for her to use this speech as an opportunity to demean men. It would have been so easy for her to use feminist language against men, advocating for a “down with the patriarchy” attitude.

However, Winfrey handled herself and presented her speech with poise and grace, advocating for all women and men who dare to stand together, fighting against social injustice. She applauded and supported women, while advocating for the genuinely decent men in our society.

Many people responded to Winfrey’s speech on Twitter by initiating the hashtag #Oprahforpresident.

Many of the reactions, from both men and women, that stemmed from Winfrey’s speech were that of empowerment, pride, and confidence in moving forward, breaking down the walls of systemic oppression and injustice.

After listening to Oprah’s speech, I feel empowered. Not only as a woman, but as a human being. I feel inspired to advocate not only for myself, but for other men and women. Oprah gave a speech that perfectly painted a picture of what our society should look like: people advocating for other people regardless of gender, skin color, sexual orientation, religion or anything else that seems to cause such severe division in our society.

This speech has inspired me to genuinely evaluate myself and learn what my truth is, and to be present long enough to listen to the truths of other people. That is what I believe the goal behind Oprah’s speech was: empowerment, honesty and truth––for ourselves and for everyone we encounter.