Oprah Winfrey made a surprise appearance at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) giving a rousing speech much to the delight of the delegates in attendance.
She spoke eloquently and endorsed Kamala Harris, asking voters who were undecided to make a stand and vote for Democrats.
She also emphasized having principles and said that values and character are what matter most both in leadership and in life. Winfrey said that decency and respect were at stake in the 2024 elections and making the right choice is important.
Winfrey spoke of both seeing and experiencing racism first hand, but she said that more often than not, people will help when you are in trouble.
She also took a dig at Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance for his “cat lady” comment some time back.
”Despite what some would have you think, we are not so different from our neighbours. When a house is on fire we don’t ask about the homeowner’s race or religion, we don’t wonder who their partner is or how they voted. No. We just try to do the best we can to save them.
”And if the place happens to belong to a childless cat lady, well, we try to get that cat out, too.”
In her speech and in an ode to patriotism, Winfrey also quoted Congressman John Lewis saying, “No matter what ship our ancestors arrive on, we are all in the same boat now.”
She urged voters to choose loyalty to the American Constitution rather than loyalty to any individual, stating that there would be no going back to the past.
“Soon and very soon, we’re going to be teaching our daughters and sons about how this child of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, two idealistic, energetic immigrants… grew up to become the 47th president of the United States.
Why the surprise speech?
In an interview with CBS News, Winfrey spoke about why she decided to step forward and give the speech at the DNC.
“I feel like we all have to do our part. We all have to do something, and I feel that we all have been in multiple conversations about what’s gonna happen. What should we do? What can be done? And now that we have this opportunity, I felt like I should grab this opportunity.”
The famous talk show host said that too much was at stake, particularly abortion rights, which she said were essential.
“The bottom line for me is that decency and respect are on the ballot. And that’s why I was willing to do it. And let me just tell you the big risk was when I don’t have anything to lose. Now, I don’t have a show… It’s not what, what is gonna cost me other than knowing that I had to do whatever I could to speak.”
When asked about the significance of Harris becoming the first female president of the United States, Winfrey responded with emotion, saying that it would mean that the glass ceiling had been shattered, sending a powerful message to women and girls everywhere.
“Women all over the world will be weeping in the streets. It will mean that actually anything is possible because this is her mother, her father, to immigrants coming to the United States… only in America could Kamala Harris’ story be possible, And I’m here because only in America could my story be possible.”