Oprah Winfrey, known for her ability to instill hope and inspiration in others, was the first Black woman to be awarded the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes last night. And after her amazing acceptance speech, rumor has it that a presidential future might be in Oprah's future.
If it's true, We. Are. So. Here. For. It.
Her acceptance speech was an eloquent monologue laced with so many truths that a standing ovation did not suffice. As if her cinematic contributions were not enough to the world of entertainment, this speech was surely the conferment of her excellence.
She spoke to the power of the voice - that using your story to drive conversations instead of biting the tongue is one of the biggest acts of courage. Speaking our truth is the most powerful tool we have because it is not only the gateway to living a life of fulfillment for ourselves, but is the catalyst that works to illuminate someone else in their own journey - to healing, to self-discovery, to leadership.
"For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dare speak the truth to the power of those [brutally powerful] men. But their time is up. Their time is up."
Oprah's acceptance speech was a sweet culmination to the aura of solidarity that was present the whole night, offering up exaltation to the women who have stepped forward in the past year, and also in history, to push the conversation forward about the imbalance of power that lies - awake and breathing - in our country. Shortly after, Twitter and various news sources (including CNN), have evolved the memorable moment into an Oprah For President campaign.
With the recent presidential election resulting in four years of Trump, we learned that virtually anything is possible. Even a billionaire with no political experience becoming the leader of the free world by running our country. Imagine a world led by Oprah. A woman that clearly champions for other women, who prioritizes mental and spiritual health, whose vision of a better future are evident in her charity work and her dedication to the education of girls in this world.
Last night's speech was not only an audible upward fist to the women who are out there pushing forward the agenda of solidarity but a reminder of the possibilities that come with sheer determination and hope. It also served as a call to action for men to listen more and recognize their placement in the equation of balance in industries across the spectrum.
As it pertains to leadership, the world has been led by men for far too long, and maybe it's time that a woman steps in to show us how it's done. Like Oprah poignantly stated in her speech, "Their time's up." With her money, fame, and influence, Oprah would be a formidable candidate for the Democratic party in the 2020 elections.
Oprah for President 2020.
Watch the full video of her acceptance speech below.
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While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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Feature image by Leon Bennett/WireImage
