“I would not be standing here today,” thundered billionaire Oprah Winfrey at the memorial service for Rosa Parks at Metropolitan A.M.E. church in Washington, “nor standing where I stand every day, had she not chosen to sit down.” Gee, probably the humble seamstress who refused to give up her seat to a white man never thought that fifty years later, she made it possible for Oprah to roll in the bucks. What Oprah’s sermon in behalf of herself does is highlight the national “I love me, I love me, I’m just crazy about myself!” preoccupation. It’s not just referring to oneself: it’s causing the spotlight to fall on your on an occasion when time should be allotted to something else.
In your attack on Oprah Winfry you describe Rosa Parks as "humble seamstress". While that limited portrayal advances your apparent point -- that Oprah doesn't know her place -- it is quite misleading.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, Ms. Parks was much more than a humble seamstress. She spoke out for African-American voting rights in the 40's as a member of the Voters' League. She was also a member of the Montgomery chapter of the NAACP. And she wasn't just a member -- she was elected volunteer secretary to its president.
Ms. Parks also attended the Highlander Folk School, an education center for workers' rights and racial equality in Monteagle, Tennessee. Rosa Parks' life was the life of a black civil-rights activist.
But the full story of Rosa Parks -- the story of a black woman filled with pride and self-confidence -- would hardly help slam America's most famous proud, self-confident black woman.
Tom, do you think the comments you selected from Oprah's "sermon" are false? I suspect Rosa Parks would have been delighted by them and, before her passing, probably heard similar remarks directly from Oprah.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of Oprah's, but you're right. She is loved by many. Those attending were no doubt glad to have Oprah (and perhaps Donald Rumsfeld, too)with them.