Oprah Winfrey’s mentor, Dr. Maya Angelou, once said, “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.” That is precisely what Oprah, the little girl from Kosciusko, Mississippi, has done with her life. Now she’s being honored with her own exhibit called, “Watching Oprah: The Oprah Winfrey Show and American Culture,” at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and she says it is the greatest honor of her life.
(VIDEO) Oprah Cries At Exhibit
She recently toured the exhibit for the first time and was reduced to tears as she viewed the celebration of her legacy. Watch the video clip below:
“I do believe that we had a big impact on the culture and I continue to feel that from people every day.” — @Oprah says on hosting “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” #WatchingOprah pic.twitter.com/Wk5nCiN6iO
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) June 7, 2018
(VIDEO) Dave Chappelle’s Touching Tribute To Oprah
Following the tour, Oprah had another emotional experience by way of her friend/comedian, Dave Chappelle, who surprised her with a touching impromptu speech at the small after party (watch the videos below):
“You’re a person, who society tells them they should be, you looked BEAUTIFUL up there,” Chappelle said to Oprah, who looked genuinely surprised and touched by his words. “You inspire us, you make us brave, you make us happy. Your success is an extension of a BEAUTIFUL personality. These are my favorite things.”
https://www.facebook.com/gayleking/videos/1261762220620829/
“Remember your spirit. It’s cliche’ now, but nobody was engaging the American public like that,” Chappelle said, referring to Oprah’s initial success of The Oprah Winfrey Show. He continued, “To be Black, growing in this city and to see all these slave masters’ monuments and all these things. And then seeing a woman, stand firm and just be yourself and confirm the American consciousness…it’s unprecedented…it may never happen the same way again.”
https://www.facebook.com/gayleking/videos/1261764453953939/
“You are a person whose life was beautiful…it IS beautiful. And I feel…privileged to have witnessed the work that you do and the person that you are. Then he ended it with a joke, “And I’m HONORED to be standing this close to you…without having to answer any questions.”
Needless to say the crowd applauded and Oprah gave Dave a big hug. But there’s MORE…
(VIDEO) Gayle Breaks Down Crying Over Oprah On TV
.@GayleKing had an emotional reaction to the new #WatchingOprah exhibit at @NMAAHC: “She really is a good human who just wants to do good in the world. And this museum is a testament to that.” pic.twitter.com/qvFJQX8RFG
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) June 7, 2018
Gayle later discussed Oprah’s new Smithsonian exhibit on the “CBS Morning Show,” she co-hosts, and for the first time ever on TV, she was reduced to tears, while talking about her friend. Gayle was standing inside of the exhibit, surrounded by many artifacts of Oprah’s legacy- from her childhood, to present- became overwhelmed. At first she was okay when she recalled touring the exhibit with Oprah for the first time. But then Gayle became emotional when recalling the conversation she’d had with her driver about Oprah that morning. The driver was an immigrant from Pakistan, who came to the U.S. in 1992 and he told Gayle how impactful Oprah was to his life:
“He started watching The Oprah Winfrey Show and he would see her walk in the audience and some of the issues she would cover, and he said, ‘I just knew that she was a good human,'” Gayle revealed. Then through tears and a cracking voice, she continued, “I’m so sorry, because I’m so used talking about her, but it’s the way that he said it this morning and when I see all the things that [she pauses] are in this room, it’s getting to me. The bottom line, she really is a good human who just wants to do good in this world.”
‘Nuff said…much respect and gratitude to Oprah Winfrey for the beautiful example she continues to set for us all. Now pardon me ILOSM fam,’ while I go grab my tissue…pretty sure I’m not the only one.
