Is Oprah Winfrey racist?

Question

She made some remarks about "white people" in a very hateful tone while she was in South Africa recently. Her new school there is all black girls. There are poor white girls in South Africa as well, but none were selected for her school.

This was not a baiting question. I was shocked when I heard her comment on the news yesterday. It wasn't using the term "white people", but rather the hateful tone and facial expression she had when she said it. I asked the question because I had not seen her speak like that before. I am not opposed to her school at all and I hope someone like her will give even more poor kids in South Africa a chance like Ms. Winfrey has given these girls.

Answer 1

When you asked the question, I kept thinking - she doesn't have the means to be racist in a technical sense. Today the word is used to describe prejudice but in order to not split hairs, I've provided the definition below.

racism


Main Entry: rac·ism
Pronunciation: 'rA-"si-z&m also -"shi-
Function: noun
1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
2 : racial prejudice or discrimination
- rac·ist /-sist also -shist/ noun or adjective

I think Oprah can be prejudicial in her statements but in her heart I believe she is dedicated to advancing mankind. She needs within her own race and wishes to help because she experienced poverty in America. I too use the phrase "white people" because this is a part of the southern vernacular and how we identified a culture different and distinct from our own. The fact that she still uses this phrase is a direct indication of her upbringing in a separate but unequal environment in the rural south. I also believe that she doesn't have the means to be a racist in the classical sense because she does not believe her race to be superior to another.

Answer 2

No, she's not, I think what she did was a very good thing. There are still remnants of apartheid left in South Africa today, it's not something we can easily understand. I dont think her comments are meant to be racist, but you took it out of context. In the context of what she was talking about, she was merely being blunt and was being a realist. We can never understand what the blacks went thru during apartheid, but she is giving them an opputunity that these kids never had or will never have, and that is something to be commendable about.
you know it;s kinda funny, as i went back to read all the other answers. Here is someone who has a lot of money, she uses her fame to put light of situations around the world and her own country. She said she was sick of writing cheques after cheques and not see any results and so decides to do something about it in a community steeped in racism and tension and poverty, and all you can focus on is not her deed but rather her colour. That is sad, don't you think? How much have you given?

Answer 3

I didn't hear any hateful remarks from her and I have never seen her do anything to imply that she is a racist. She built a school for people steeped in poverty and the people steeped in poverty in that locale are black. That makes her a racist? If a white guy gives a dollar to a homeless white guy, does that make him a racist because he wasn't a homeless black guy? Your question seems more of a baiting remark to try and stir up dissension by racists. When you give ten million dollars to a racially diverse portion of the population, then we will talk.

Answer 4

sure she is between the main racist persons obtainable. Being a racist does not purely mean discriminating against yet another race, it additionally skill to grant determination to a race and to apply race as an excuse or a weapon. Oprah likes to play the race card it quite is racist, she voted for Barrack Obama because of the fact he grew to become into black it quite is racist, her portrayal of white human beings in stereotypical roles is racist as is her perspectives on how Blacks are taken care of and seen by skill of society. She makes use of race in very almost each and everything she does or writes, this makes her a racist.

Answer 5

South Africa is a whole different ballgame than any other country I've ever visited. Black people are now being given power without the education to do the best job possible and truthfully, I believe it's time the tables were tilted more evenly for everyone.

I have a white friend who lives in SA and her husband lost his job to a less qualified black man because of the turning tide... but they still have black maids and household help because while blacks are gaining more rights, there are still too many who never received proper education.

For the next generation... who will have the rights... they will also need to have the responsibility of being well-educated to carry the burden that will placed upon them. There is no racism like the racism you will see in SA... and there are many horror stories to go along with the mentality that has been a travesty and continues to be in many areas, including treatment for AIDS which is still rampant and the reasons for that.

The violence is overwhelming. The violence against women and children, even more so.

I applaud what Oprah Winfrey is doing and it's just her way of trying to give other young black females the opportunities they deserve. She was a young black female who struggled herself and she's acted in roles that I believe touched her to the core as she's reviewed OUR nation's history on this subject.

You can't fix everything for everyone and the fact that she's determined to fix as much as she can for as many as she can should just be appreciated and not criticized. Much of Oprah's charitible work crosses over all borders of race and religion. I believe, in a country like SA, that she's entitled to set her own limits in who she selects as students for her school.

One more thing to keep in mind: This school is still in SA, right? Do you really believe that black children and white children attend school together in all areas? They do not. Not by a long shot and not in most areas. The racial divide there makes USA in 1955 look like Ebony and Ivory living together in perfect harmony. Perhaps, given the area, she had to choose. I believe she made the right choice. There have been plenty of schools for white children in SA for generations. Black children... not so much.

Answer 6

Do your history on South Africa and hopefully you'll have a better understanding. Check out America, so you know South Africa is worse when it comes to unequal treatment! Go Oprah I'm proud of you. If you have 40 million dollars you can open up your own school or do what you want.

Answer 7

how can she be recist when 80% of the people on her show is white how can she be racist when 80% of her guest is white how can she be racist at the begining of 2006 she gave away cars to people on her show 90% of them where white so can you tell me why you think she,s racist and dont forget she has a show called oprah and friends and she is the only black person in the group and about the school issue it was on the news yesterday i actually saw a white girl that was interviewed that goes to the school and oprah said it herself that the school was open to all race what do u expect the school is in africa there are more black people there than white and dont blame oprah cause she went back to her root how many people can do what she does and also some months ago african american rappers protested against oprah cause she said she would never invite any of them to her show cause they degrade women so dont blame oprah for being real and what she is instead comend her for her effort

Answer 8

I honestly don't think so. yes she is trying to help young black girls in Africa. She is trying to help a culture that has been suppressed for a very long time. If that is a cause she wants to help, then great. She has also contributed to many many other causes and helped a lot of people of all races. She is a role model for all of us. She helps humans overall, not by color. I don't see a reason to bend all out of shape over one comment. She is innately a good person.

Answer 9

No, I don't think of her as racist. Yes, she is helping "her people" in Africa, but she has on many, many occaisions helped people of all races. Did you see the show where she gave everyone a car? It looked like her audience was mostly white that day.
She has money to give and she wants to help people. I think that she has been very generous with everyone. (and I am white)

Answer 10

I do not believe in any way that Oprah is racist. She is out to do good for everyone, she just can't do it all at the same time. Just before
Christmas, there was criticism from some of the black community, saying that she was trying to forget that she is black.
She is a Good and Fair Lady.