When Oprah speaks, Harvard listens
By Ann Hoevel, CNN
(CNN) - Harvard University's 362nd commencement ceremony was held this afternoon, as onlookers fanned themselves on a warm Massachusetts day.
Centenarians, accomplished alumni and graduates were recognized during the celebrations. The school's band and choir performed a rousing rendition of the "Harvardiana" march. But the star of the show was commencement speaker Oprah Winfrey, who also received an honorary Harvard degree earlier in the day.
Wearing an appropriate shade of crimson, Winfrey took the podium to a standing ovation.
"Oh my goodness, IIIIII'M AT HAAAAAARRRRRVAAAARD!" she boasted in traditional Oprah style. "Not too many little girls from rural Mississippi have made it all the way here to Cambridge," she said, addressing her remarks to anyone who has "felt inferior or disadvantaged or screwed by life."
She started her speech by addressing the struggles and criticism she has endured in launching the OWN television network. The invitation to speak at the commencement, Winfrey said, came the day she read a particularly unkind headline about her network in USA Today. "And they're the nice paper!" she exclaimed.
She decided to turn her network around by the time she spoke to the Harvard class of 2013.
"Failure is just life trying to move us in a different direction," she told them. "This last year I had to spoon feed those words to myself." Winfrey advised the graduates learn from their mistakes, "because every experience and encounter and particularly your mistakes are there to teach you who you are."
Winfrey complimented the graduating class on their good fortune to have a Harvard degree, and mentioned that when a resume of a Harvard graduate crosses her desk, she sits up a little straighter.
"The challenge of life is to build a resume that doesn't simply tell a story about what you want to be but who you want to be," she said. "When you inevitably stumble and find yourself in a hole, that is the story that will get you out."
And while figuring out who you want to be, "don't expect the clarity to come all at once, right away," Winfrey advised. But, she hinted, the graduating class of 2013 may have an ace in the hole for that endeavor.
"Your generation has developed a finely honed radar for B.S.," she said. "Can you say B.S. at Harvard?"
Real progress, the progress needed to break through the cynicism and political gridlock so prevalent in the country today, she said, requires an authentic way of being. Honesty and empathy, she shared, are the necessary tools for a brighter future.
In all the interviews she has conducted, from politicians to criminals to everyday people, Winfrey said the common denominator was a desire for empathy and validation.
"They ask, 'Was that OK?' I've heard that from President Bush, I heard that from President Obama," she said. "I even heard that from Beyonce in all her Beyonceness."
"They all want to know one thing: Was that OK? Did you hear me, did you see me, did what I said mean anything to you?"
She advised the graduates to strive for one ultimate goal: to "fulfill the highest, most truthful expression of yourself as a human being. You want to max out your humanity."
She concluded by asking, "Was that OK?"
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Bottom line...why would she use that pulpit to promote her left agenda...she should be inspiring them about their future in the business world etc....she is a successful business woman...give advise about business..
"PC
"She is still just a Black person who is speaking to a predominately White crowd trying to tell them what it is to be successful."
Harvard has not been predominatly white for some time. Here are the stats for those interested.
Student Body
Undergrad student body: 6,676
6 year graduation rate: 97%
Male/female ratio: 50% / 50%
International: 20%
Out of state students: 85%
Students living in campus housing: 97%
African American
6%
Asian
15%
Hispanic
8%
International
13%
Native American
0%
White
48%
Unknown
7%"
**crickets chirping** uhhh..
Birdhouse, I think you know where you can stick your crickets. Adding a certain amount of the international students(13%) and the unknown students(7%) it puts Whites at well over 55% of the student body. The next highest race is Asians at a mere 15%. That is complete domination of White students right there. The other races are so desperate to claim they are the majority that they choose to be added up all together against the White students total. You silly fool. That is not how things work. That is not how you add up and calculate who is the majority. With that type of logic I guess that means it will always be White people VS the entire world combined, is that not right? PHFFT. The statistics are very clear. The Whites own Harvard, and always will.
Be nice, people! Can't we all get along? Oprah is not perfect, nor are any of us, so be nice, its good for your health. Harvard invited her so okay, she spoke and did not say anything bad or wrong and nobody died, so what is all the dirty talk about? Have nice day, ALL!
Right on, Stanley!!!!!
"I remembered to wash for dinner, see! "
From the sounds of it, the speech was all about Oprah. That is really surprising coming from someone who puts herself on the cover of a magazine every month.
the queen of empty rhetoric
Amazing that there are so many childish objections to a very very very successful American, and just about the most generous, being INVITED to speak at Haavaad! lol
Everyone the world over knows that Harvard produces some of the brightest university graduates.
If those brightest and best chose Ms O to talk to them about life and success, then only the dumbest of Americans will be objecting; and their objection is totally worthless!
Little wonder the republicons are eager to rid the nation of the Dept of Edu; Americans aren't becoming brighter; they are becoming dumber by the generation.
We should really only listen to very smart people like you who spend their days listening to Rush Limbaugh.
"Failure is just life trying to move us in a different direction,"
Please Oprah, will you also explain this in no uncertain terms to conservatives?
why it's Shakespeare
Oprah bleccchhh! i wouldn't touch that smelly schtank with a 10-inch pole! aaacckkk!
Why would Harvard want Oprah at their commencement? Oprah could care less about white people....... she's a total racist.
She IS racist. But let one of we while folk say anything about all the black free loaders, and all the free stuff they get from gov't, and WE'RE call racists just for mentioning it. I hope this all gets straightened out someday, but I'm afraid not in our lifetimes... blacks have a never-ending chip on their collective shoulders. WE OWE THEM NOTHING.
Of course, there are no white freeloaders.
Perhaps when the day comes that, when talking about those black freeloaders you include all the white free loaders in the same breath, you won't be defined as a bigoted racist.
FACT is there are 23% more White folks on Welfare then any other racial group.
Furthermore, America – when it really was great – use to help the poor get jobs, education and other needed assistance; today, we just berate them, attack them, and make them a punch line for nasty, hateful jokes...
You do know that more white people get some kind of government assistance don't you?
How about the corporate freeloaders like Bank of America and General Electric which pay no taxes? I guess we don't like to talk about them.
There are tens of millions of more White people in America than Blacks. Trying to point out that there are more Whites total on welfare is a cheap and brainless ploy that only Black people would try to point out. Black people as a race have a MUCH higher percentage of people on welfare. There is no other race who even comes close to them. Try to talk your way around that one you fools.
Whine some more...
More Wine!!!
Why would Harvard care what "peach" has to say about what Harvard decides to do? They seem to have done quite well without your advice so far. 🙂
Oprah is wonderful. and she is not a racist. what a silly comment. one time in my life, i am actually jealous of Harvard.
Joe Biden also spoke at the University of Pennsylvania's commencement, how could you forget that?
you must've gone to not penn state
Sonia, did anyone ever tell you you are the stupidest, most ungrateful person to ever escape from South Africa?! Those businesses that you continue to knock and ridicule are the ones that have stepped into the vacuum created by Mr. Obama's moronic policies. Let me remind you that in part, we need to thank Ms. Oprah for helping to put THIS CLUELESS MAN in office. And to top it off, she was later thrown under the busby; YOU KNOW WHO...
I personally like Ms. Oprah, somewhat! Just that with so much help needed here in América, I just hoped that she would concentrate her gift giving in the country that has given her ALL that she has been able to accomplish and more.
you mean she "didn't build it by herself"? lol That's right, only white men "build it on their own"... everybody else owes it to society. Can't have it both ways, but some folks just keep trying. 🙂
you would think she would be speaking at inner city schools, etc....do harvard grads need a pep talk from oprah?....
Oprah may have made it successfully, but as a black person she still represents a race that is forever stuck at the bottom rung of society. She is still just a Black person who is speaking to a predominately White crowd trying to tell them what it is to be successful. It is a ridiculous irony that she should be speaking there at all.
So long as people put down others because of the color of their skin, and associate them with others of their same skin color, then they cannot grow or mature, in this country. Jim Crow days have long since past. Even though southern states are changing, the mental compatibility of those stuck in second gear can't and won't know what life can be like for judging people by their actions, and personalities. Not by the color of their skin, or their ethnicity.
"She is still just a Black person who is speaking to a predominately White crowd trying to tell them what it is to be successful."
Harvard has not been predominatly white for some time. Here are the stats for those interested.
Student Body
Undergrad student body: 6,676
6 year graduation rate: 97%
Male/female ratio: 50% / 50%
International: 20%
Out of state students: 85%
Students living in campus housing: 97%
African American
6%
Asian
15%
Hispanic
8%
International
13%
Native American
0%
White
48%
Unknown
7%
Steven, I am a Black Duke grad. Just wanted to let you know that the Harvard, Duke, Stanford and the rest of the top schools have not been predominantly white for 10 years (ever since everyone had equal chance of getting in). FYI
PC - I agree with your sentiment, but your logic is wrong. If you add a certain amount of Unknown (7%) and International (13%) to the White (48%) population, you almost certainly get to over 50%.
PC- Did you look at the stats you posted? Unless ALL International and ALL Unknown are of other races, (even then there would be more than twice as many whites as any other race), Harvard IS predominately White.
Ohhh ... so I get it ... Harvard is majority white! Thanks for this, and proving yourself wrong ... WOW.
You were right Steven. According to PC's statistics, Whites make up 48% of Harvard. The next highest race is a meager 15% for Asians. That is nowhere near close to how Whites DOMINATE that school!!(Who else would?) And if you were to add a certain amount of the Unknown(7%) and international(13%) students to the mix you would have well over 55% as White Students. YOU WERE RIGHT!! To those who had the nerve to even question how Whites OWN that school:
IN YOUR FACE!!!!!!!
Look at all the nit-pickers: "If you add in all the unknown and so on you can get the white population above 50%" If you have to play with numbers to get to just over 50% doesn't that mean it is darn close.
Then those numbers where only for the under grad class. What about staff, faccilty and all the grad students? I don't know
Can we just say "about half"? And not majority anything. Havard is a private school and can admit who that want.
CJACJA, you completely miss the point. Whites make up over half of the student body while the next highest race is Asians at a mere 15%. That is complete domination right there. The others races are so desperate to claim they are the majority that they choose to be added up all together against White people total. You Silly Fools. That is not how things work. That is not how you add up and calculate who is the majority. With that type of logic I guess that means it will always be White people VS the entire World combined, is that not right? PHFFT. The Whites own Harvard, and always will
So her show was a success. All u have to do is to appeal to all the ignorant, stupid, uneducated, unemployed people who watch day-time television. Springer's show was also a success. Being lucky is just as important to success as hard work. Can any celebrity or politician or scientist tell you anything not already mentioned in the Bible and taught by example by Jesus Christ and the saints? The wisdom of God is folly to the world and the world's wisdom is folly to God.
It looks like you were in the front row of her audience, based on the people you have brought up to her shows.
That group fairly accurately describes many that watch Fox News.
Ahh... Sorry, but MAN created GOD... anything else?
Your just a little troll aren't you
The blind leads the blind.
...... and wear sunblock.
Great choice Harvard! A successful, self made woman who is willing to share her scars to help others. Congratulations graduates!
I wonder if Oprah advises them to try Crack like she did when young...
Oprah! I'm sure they already know how to bake AND eat entire ham.
LMAO
Why anyone would listen to a celebrity is beyond me. I loved it when she endorsed a book a few years ago and the book was fake! Loved every minute of her failure. Celebrities in this country are over done and endorsed way to much. They have nothing to add, and are irrelevant people who think they are high and mighty, but are nothing but a bunch of losers, and scandalous pigs.
John,
People like you are why this country is in the shape that it is in today. She had some great things to say and you dismissed what was said and gloated in a mistake that was made. I hope that you do not have any kids because they are in serious trouble. I feel sorry for them and for you.
Loser? the richest Woman in the USA a Loser?..well ok then...
Rich according to who? Money doesn't bring happiness, nor does it mean that someone has brains. Oprah, unfortunately, is another new age guru, who promotes the prosperity of vanity and says quite often that we all can become gods. If she truly wants to help people, she needs to denounce her sinful, ungodly ways and tell the truth.
Jeb, next time try not to thump your bible quite so hard. Enjoy your "faith" filled poverty.
Jeb, do you not know of the Bible verse, "You are all gods?"
*too* much
John there are a lot of things bad/negative in life and you are right to some extreme, some of those celebrities are garbage, but some are good people. Oprah is very successful and from what I have seen a good person. And you know, you too can be a nice person by changing the way of thinking and looking for the good within. Don't get into religious or bible stuff, THAT will not help you. There is a lot of reading materials out there, help yourself and jingles will come out of you mind.
Harvard picked an excellent speaker who's worked very hard to acquire her seccess.
Harvard gave an honorary degree and commencement speaker invitation to a proponent of phony science. They gave this to a woman who agreed with Jenny McCarthy, who said that vaccinations cause autism. This is a woman who doesn't understand science and the scientific method. Remember, she IS from Mississippi...
"she IS from Mississippi"??? We are less because of where we're born? You do a discredit to wherever you're from with that statement.
Do your homework Benjamin! You are a loud idiot! The top scientists and doctors in the filed of autism research have been unable to prove that vaccines DON"T cause autism. Don't speak such stupidity until you have a walked a mile in Jenny McCarthy's shoes and parent a special needs child! She didn't say vaccines cause autism, but rather the timing of vaccines should be slower.
I am NOT from Mississippi and I reject your comment! Your Jewish friends are probably NOT very happy with you.
So when this 1%er speaks it's great.... Can we see her tax return ?
sorry you can't she's a private citizen. not a person who holds a public office position..
Sure, as soon as Mitt reveals ALL of his.
Please some of you need to get a life. Oprah has done more for people then many of you probably have done in life. Harvard is no joke and if they picked her to speak then good for them. Learn to see the goodness in others and you will go far in life.
"Failure is just life trying to move us in a different direction." What an excellent quote.
those who against Oprah are nothing but haters, racist and ignorant. they are so jealous because of her succes
Up yours Soldier Dick
Wow, now that's constructive
It would be a day without sunshine for someone NOT to play the race card.
Oprah is the racist.....
I am with you soldier!
YOU CAN hate all you want, Oprah is a self-made billionaire......you got to be good at business and control your money in order to do that......Oprah is harvard speaker material and MORE.
if this was a WHITE WOMEN, many of you racist would be praising her now.
You mean someone like Ellen? I doubt it
You weren't an English major, were you?
Down MoMO, DOWN......BAD DOG, MoMO...
Just for being a Black and heavy set woman all of her talents, accomplishments and charitable work are overlooked. What a shame that in 2013 we still have people who feel that it's OK to put someone down out of ignorance, insecurity or for whatever reason. Not a big fan of her show but I admire the woman for her courage, success and authenticity.
I feel the same Alamretto. She is a successful self-made woman with many great accomplishments. I doubt many on this board that are bashing her has much to share about what they have done.
Dont you guys have anything else to do? Just asking!!!!
Harvard has lost its way as a ivy league school. No longer a top tier school.
Oprah is a self-made BILLIONAIRE......i think harvard choose well.
You must be a graduate, MoMO. It's "chose", not "choose", and no, they did not. She's a talk show host. That is all. You using the term racist to describe those who do not bow at the feet at anyone who has plenty of money shows just how small-minded you are. I bet Michael Jackson is a hero of yours, too. Sad.
Harvard is now run by the Jews. And the Jews of Harvard run the Obama Administration. No, it's not a conspiracy – it's called "ethnic networking" and the Jews do ethnic networking very well.
Unfortunately, the WASPS and other whites were too caught up in their own individualism to notice – and have now been replaced by a new elite. Kevin MacDonald writes extensively about this on his website The Occidental Observer
How sad that you have to compartmentalize everyone and can't take individuals on their own merit. Oprah is not one of my favorite people, but I do realize that she has become very successful through her own doing. It's obvious that she continues to learn every thing she can. Sure, she's made some mistakes. Hasn't everyone? Her's are just fodder for the newspapers. I think she's a perfect model of success. I do disagree with some of her beliefs, however, I can look past that and respect her for her accomplishments. You, sir, should open your closed and biased mind. You can't possibly be a happy person and I feel sorry for you.
Once more...go away bannister. You're friggin' crazy. And you are NOT a nice person, LOL.
I'm not a fan of Oprah. I think she is great at talk shows that cover minor social problems of the human condition. That's about it. It's great that she made a lot of money but I don't think she makes the cut for a Harvard speaker.
Ooooh, really? Go to sleep, Rex. You're sounding like you might need a rest. "Harvard is no longer a top tier school" and "Oprah doesn't make the cut for a Harvard speaker". Hahahahahahahaha, Elmo so sleeeeepy.
Oprah made it big as a talk show host. She is not Harvard material.
I've changed my mind. Oprah is a Big Fat Fraud.
See crackheads can influence the world too (Oprah).
I know a crackhead named Curt!! Honestly!!!!
Then that must mean that I know you too
HOW MANY "CRACKHEADS" DO YOU KNOW THAT MAKE MORE MONEY THEN YOU AND YOUR WHOLE FAMILY PUT TOGETHER? OH ILL WAIT..............*pats feet*
Hell, I have all kinds of education and am supposedly really smart. But, I don't have one hundred millionth of the money Oprah has. Nor do I run a hugely successful commercial empire that employs thousands of people. She has given many times more money to charity than I made in my whole 40+ year career. I think she was an excellent choice for speaker at Harvard, America's second best University.
Let me guess ... and America's #1 school is that other school in Cambridge ... MIT?
Oprah gives millions because she has it to give. Others give and do what they can to help others. It's not about the amount you give but if you give at all and I'm not just talking money.
Oprah gives millions -but ONLY to blacks.
Oprah is an important symbol of academia. Her contributions to many different fields of thought and study are as impressive as... as... as Barack Obama's. She is certain to win a Nobel prize next. And Harvard demonstrated how impressively enlightened it is in listening so carefully to her... umm... enlightenment.
When Oprah Speaks, Harvard Passes Gas
My question is...did she drop a massive pile of wmd in toilet after her speech? 😉
Having Oprah as a commencement speaker really takes Harvard down several notches in academia. the college should be embarrassed to have lowered its standards.
Did they invite you to make speech at a group of chimps. The chimps will be embarrassed to have you there. They are more intelligent than you.
Being a chimp doesn't make them more intelligent than anyone. That is why they are chimps
My goodness, why all the hatred toward this woman? I'm not her biggest fan(no, my sister is), but sometimes the vitriolic statements made about her by people in these comment sections make me wonder about the people making the comments.
When Oprah speaks, her breath stinks.
Hater, troll, bigot, is that what you want with a comment like that ? Jealous much ?
Jealousy, jealousy jealousy ! If Oprah wants you to kiss her butt and pay you 20 bucks you will be the first to run. right ? Not even 40 or 50 or 100 but for twenty dollars you will do it.
Seeing that you are nothing more than a lowly South African you would probably do it for 20 cents
I will make correction. I saw you are Hispanic so it will be 50 cents not even 20 bucks.
The Hispanic part was over the top. Classification of character based on a persons race is racist, stop it.
I see that you are South African so it would only take 20 cents for you
How would you know? They won't let people like you get near her dude. You people are filled with hatred and jealousy. Just sad...
professing to be wise they became fools ...
Funny that these high end school produce some of the most brilliant minds of our times, yet when a radio talk show host that never attended colleges says they are bad the sheep just on the turnip truck, why is that ?
Does anyone still pay attention to Oprah? After she opened her school of child molestation in South Africa I thought people would quit worshipping her. What are her credentials anyway? Her "honorary" Harvard degree?
Use your head I am from South Africa, she is a wonderful lovely lady who spent her money for the well being of South Africans not for dummies like you who just live by commenting and flipping burgers.
I don't flip burgers, but tell me why you love her. What has she done for you?
I told you why Iove her, She did good to South Africa where non of your leaders even want to stop by. She loves to help the disadvantaged people. Not just opening her big filthy mouth like you. I tell you you flip burgers. I don't hear comments like you from an educated person. The way you speak tells me who you are.
Ok. I feel bad for you. If you can be taken in by Oprah that easy, that is sad. Good luck in life. I hope you don't get a job from some businessman who promises to give you a "better life".
Mitch what do you mean by taking that easy by Oprah ? Aren't you voting for a president who can do for the better of the country ? Why do you vote one over the other ? For fun ? This is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Why do you want to work in one company over the other? It is for the benefits. So what is wrong with South Africans? They love those who want to help them step on a solid ground. Oprah is one of them
Sonia, I am tired. It is midnight here, and I need to go to bed. Let's just agree to disagree. I have to get up in the morning to go "flip burgers". Peace ; )
Notice Mitch never actually answers your question, just runs away.
Again...much ado about n"O"thing...
her boy Obama was supposed to clean up walstreet, did she pay her fair share?
I was there...I didn't listen...
No you don't. You are a high school drop out at Subway restaurant.
That is still a higher position than you have ever attained
Oprahs anus must be as big as a 1972 half dollar
you must be a second grader, if I am not mistaken
Go deliver some pizzas honey.
When Oprah farts, everyone scatters.
LOL!
Some of you unintelligent people........lifebeach, bpsf and Milton ...... Need to get a life as you look like jerks.
Lol. Oprah got that vintage pumpum.
Oprah should date Tracy Chapman and dump Gail.
Oprah should buy me a house and give me some cash. I need some gold teeth and Jordans.
Okra Windbag......If I was at this graduating ceremony.....I would
have to put my earphones on & turn up some hard rock.
Nothing this TT does/says.....would occupy my great mind.
That is why you are not there, but busy flipping burgers at McDonald's. People like you will never make past high school.
That is still higher than any position you have ever attained
Mc Donalds Employees have something called a job. To stay employed there you have to show up on time. Be clean. Follow instructions. Be courteous and work well with others. What is wrong with any of those things????? Besides my kid loves their Fries and when he orders in his 4 year old kind of way they are always patient and nice to him. You know what? If I came across a burning car wreck with a trapped congressman and a Mc Donalds employee trapped inside. I would pull out the Mc Donalds employee first....Wouldn't you?
Does Harvard need the money THAT badly....How much did O give them, or where they just pandering...
Ya, I'm sure Harvard, with by far the biggest university endowment fund in the world, needed the money...
Oprah is a very intelligent woman. She knows how to appeal to her audience, which is composed of people who are not so intelligent, to put it mildly. Harvard could and should do better.
Milton, you would do better keeping your mouth shut and I'll explain why. You keep stepping on your tung.
tongue I do believe you meant!!
I think Milton has a point
When criticizing others one must spell correctly to not look like moron.
– Old chinese saying
Thank God you are from Burger king not even came across community colleges.
Your hamburger references are quite lame and lack in any originality. Sounds like your the one who flips the burgers
Oprah is an egotistical opportunist. it's all about her. Name one charitable thing she's done where she didn't wallow in publicity for her actions.
Oprah is the real deal ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,she has known failure and success and she is being the best she can be,,,, lots of folks
need to emulate her good work and learn to LOVE one another
When she comes out of the closet, then I'll be impressed
Opra should run for President.....people listen to HER!
Gay is next, so she might just make it
Oprah is too smart to run for president.
I fart at weddings
I had a chance to hear her speak live. Opra is always great. Down to earth. Inspirational!!