Oprah Says 'To Hell With' Her Critics

1. Ditto. I'ts what she did. What have the critics personally done but run off at the mouth? The spiritual law says to give, it does not say ask anyone to dictate what God puts on your heart to do.

That is the problem I have with people that are running off at the mouth. Whether you have trillions, billions, millions or just 100 dollars you are required to do what you can at your level. Are you giving anything to anybody? Should people outside of you and your God tell you what to do with your giving? I say shut up and put up your own money.

Cerra at 5:57PM on Jul 6th 2007

2. TRUTHFULLY OPRAH IS A ROLE MODEL FOR ME AND I HONESTLY SUPPORT HER DECISION TO FUND THE SCHOOL IN AFRICA. I BELIEVE SHE SEES A LACK OF OUR PEOPLE TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I GUESS SHE FEELS LIKE WHY TRY HERE WHEN THERE ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US THAN OUR POEPLE OVER THERE. SO YES SHE IS TRYING TO HELP OUT WHERE IT IS NEEDED. I APPLAUD HER 100%.

CHEYON at 6:36PM on Jul 6th 2007

3. My only problem with Oprah's School for Girls: What's going to happen with the boys?

Beverley at 6:38PM on Jul 6th 2007

4. I agree with Oprah. Sometimes you do have to say to hell with what people say. People will criticize no matter what you do in life. She is doing positive things. Black folks should not complain. If she built a school over here, there would be too much attention to the kids and their families and the education would not be what they deserve. You see how our school system is today. Half of the ones who graduate can't even read or write on their age/grade level. Those girls will graduate from her school and be the future of Africa and the world. She don't have to answer to anyone, its her damn MONEY!!!

Ms Jay at 6:54PM on Jul 6th 2007

5. Whether you agree with Oprah and the ways in which she uses her money, you have to agree:IT IS HER MONEY!

She worked hard to earn it and owes no one any expalanation of how she uses it. Her Angel Network and its charitable programs are active in the USA; she created the school in Africa for young girls and these are all things that she did not have to do but she did.

I think that she should be repected for her aachievements and her willingness to share the wealth.

As I said, you don't have to agree. I feel that she romanticizes Africans and their relationship to Black Americans. I also feel that her view of Black American kids is skewed. The kids that would respond to her questions regarding education in the fashion that she would like exist. She is the fat little girl in the corner wearing glasses that the kids already pick on, so she won't say much. He is the young man who doesn't want his friends to pick on him because he wants something different. They don't want to be accused of trying to"be White" and they do have to live in their neighborhoods, so they try to be inconspicuous. There are lots of Black American kids and their parents who want a better education. The people who don't want anything more make more noise and better press. Black American kids want more and most are willing to work if given the chance. Personally, I would like to see Oprah spend more of her capital on Black American kids, but IT IS HER MONEY!.

I am sorry that this turned into a rant, but I've been thinking about this for a while. I respect Oprah for her hard work,her achievements and her generosity but do think that she needs to rethink her view of Black Americans.

Ellie at 7:23PM on Jul 6th 2007

6. I respect Ms. Winfrey for her generosity, and yes it's her money and she has earned it and she can vey well do whatever she want to do with it. However I'm sure there are plenty of young black children in American that would appreciate some help for education. I recently submitted a letter to her on behalf of my granddaughter for funds for her to go on an educational trip to Europe this summer, to no avail. My grannddaughter is and has been on the A/B honor every since she has been in school. She loves school and grab every chance to learn something new. She is not caught up in all the fashion, even though she loves clothes, her passion is children and learning. So give our young black children a chance too.

Brenda at 8:20PM on Jul 6th 2007

7. Oprah has worked very hard for her money and her success!

Oprah has helped many black children and young adults right here in the USA.

Why is it that some folks expect her to solve ALL of the problems? No matter what she does, there will be those who will have a problem/issue with it!

Those folks need to get a grip and IF they are so concerned about opening schools in the USA, then by all means they should put their money where their mouths are!

Usually, all they give is lip service, they do not give one dime to anyone.

Bottom line is that it is her money. She can do whatever she wants to do with HER MONEY, just like others can do what they want with the monies they have earned.

GO OPRAH! And thank you for all you have done!

OriginalMs at 8:36PM on Jul 6th 2007

8. White philanthropers, white religious groups and white volunteers seem to be the ones pulling their weight in Africa. Why not us? Why not Oprah? These are children of our ethnic heritage. If American children and sorry to say, American parents of African decent were as eager, with fervor, to educate their children as the children and parents of these girls in S. Africa, well hell, then Oprah felt compelled to step up and set the way for them. How many Black Americans are literally fighting for better education for our children and fighting for parents to become more involved? Becoming a big brother/sister and become a mentor in the local schools in the inner city neighborhoods, a literacy volunteer for both children and parents are a beginning to helping eradicate the ignorance and poverty that exist and prevents many young black youth from pursuing positive goals. In the long run, it really doesn't matter what Oprah did (and thank God she did because not many other folk care about those African girls), but it is what we all should do in our humanitarian efforts to help children around the world to have a better future. They are the future.

Dee at 1:50AM on Jul 7th 2007

9. oprah is another wastefull democrap.unfortunately she made great money from us leading us on to think shes a great american but when the buck falls its in africa.thats really giving back to the community as you dems would say about other corporations.also this black voices forum is anti social and is segregatest .why contribute to a color in our country? typical hypocrites.why impeached expres. bill clinton on this site ? do you also sponsor criminals to our country.i forgot this is a black thing.

jungle joe at 3:29AM on Jul 7th 2007

10. ...the nerve of that woman...wanting to give a better future to the children(smile)...

cherdelove at 3:44AM on Jul 7th 2007

11. I agree with Oprah! She is trying to help those with the greatest need. She is in a financial position to have a world view of generosity, not only the view of the Africian American childen in the USA. By the way reader, who have you helped? How much have you contributed to educate black childen in the US? Afterall, we live in a rich country compared with so many other places all over the world where black children live. Let us not be selfish in our view. There is help available for all American children, including black children. Often neither the schools nor the parents look for the assistance that is here at home and avaialble to them. It is Oprah's choice to help those who, in her view, have the greatest need. If Oprah helps these African girls to become strong and productive human beings, she helps us all in the long run. One world.

Pam at 4:59AM on Jul 7th 2007

12. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you ! -with all of the comments being logged,
I pray Ms. Winfrey will not respond to the criticism in a way that would lead her to rule out in the future giving the same opportunity to the young people in America. Maybe she has plans for a similar project in America down the road that has not yet been revealed to the public. Remember Ms.Winfrey naturally does things in a BIG WAY - Hopefully like a duck the water will just run down her back and she truly is strong enough to let the those in opposition to her exercising the right to spend her own income as she wishes to - as only in America you can. I am sure there is plenty more in her heart to give again as she has been so blessed the first time to give of her means. She will continue to prosper whether she gives in America or Africa. Her territory has been increased and maybe on the next wave of her charitable contributions your neighborhoods and school systems might be included. It is not Ms Wifrey's responsibility to improve the quality of education in America single handed. That's what the voting process is supposed to do - provide a way to change some of the things that are not just right in America.

Gloria Patterson at 11:26AM on Jul 7th 2007

13. to hell with them oprah

pam at 11:47AM on Jul 7th 2007

14. Oprah can do whatever she wants to do with her money. How many other people have done anything at all for African students or Black Americans? I think she mentioned that the girls school would be first - something like a trial and that more schools would come. I admire her for doing something. She makes me proud.

karen at 1:04PM on Jul 7th 2007

15. Well I dont understand how a black girl in America feels when Oprah went on white media and said that black girls in America weren't worthy of a school -so she went all the way to South Africa (the whitest part of Africa)and the girls were all about their cell phones and social time and not learning-too many blacks think that Africa is some dream land and Afican Americans are acting is a way that other peoople do not. Oprah should have leanred her lesson since ther were even trying to sue her in Africa.

Dumane at 1:52PM on Jul 7th 2007