Indeed, no good deed goes unpunished. This familiar expression aptly describes the unwarranted criticisms of Oprah Winfrey’s school for African girls.
Criticisms of Oprah’s school for African girls
For years, the media hailed Oprah as a saint. Now they seem hell-bent on reminding her that she’s all too human. Except that they are using a school she built to tear her down. That betrays their mercenary intent.
Even her devoted fans, primarily white females, are now criticizing her. They are echoing criticisms Madonna and Angelina Jolie received for adopting African instead of American kids. Because they say Oprah should have built a $40-million school in America instead of Africa.
Oprah didn’t win any new fans with her response to this criticism:
I became so frustrated with visiting inner-city schools [in America]. … If you ask the kids what they want or need, they will say an iPod or some sneakers.
In South Africa, they don’t ask for money or toys. They ask for uniforms so they can go to school.
(Newsweek, January 7, 2007)
Criticisms that are warranted
Oprah has provided ample fodder for warranted criticism. Exhibit A is the way she defended literary fraudster James Frey. Even after the media exposed his bestselling memoir, A Million Little Pieces, as a book of lies, she continued. Oprah insisted on Larry King Live that:
I feel about A Million Little Pieces that although some of the facts have been questioned … the underlying message of redemption in James Frey’s memoir still resonates with me. What is relevant is that he was a drug addict.
(Larry King Live, January 11, 2006)
But her defense of Frey did not resonate. Publishers depend on her for their daily bread these days. Yet even they complained that she was bringing their profession into disrepute.
Oprah apologized. She even invited Frey on her own talk show to condemn him as a “talented liar” to his face. But the damage to her saintly reputation was done.
Defending Oprah
iPINIONS was in the vanguard of those criticizing Oprah for defending Frey. I was a lone voice criticizing her for protesting I’m not gay. But I am defending her in this case.
Her critics argue that Americans made Oprah a billionaire. So she owes it to America to direct her philanthropy toward helping Americans. You know, like the inner-city (Black) kids she dissed. And this, no matter how much they frustrate her.
Mind you, I’d bet Oprah donates more to help poor Blacks in America than all her critics combined.
But USAID gives billions every year to help develop poor countries in Africa. So, to be consistent, her critics should be criticizing USAID for developing Africa, no?
Not to mention the criticism they would have to hurl at Bill Gates. After all, he gives hundreds of millions to fund health care for Africans. That amount makes what Oprah gives to fund education look cheap.
There’s also the presumptuousness in this criticism. After all, what Oprah does with her money is nobody’s business.
What’s more, she’s fulfilling a need in a way that honors our shared humanity. Even if many of us could afford to, we might not be conscientious enough to do the same.
Oprah explained what moved her to build The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy in Henly-on-Klip, Johannesburg, South Africa. Here is her enlightened explanation:
I wanted to give this opportunity to girls who had a light so bright that not even poverty could dim that light.
(The Washington Post, January 3, 2007)
Now how can any fair-minded human being criticize that?
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Jeana says
I agree wholeheartedly with this article. The criticisms of this philanthropic gesture by Oprah have been absurd to say the least. Why should anyone tell her how to spend her money, where, and how much? It’s great that these poor girls in Africa are getting an opportunity they otherwise would not have had to get an education. You can’t put a price on that. The $40 million is more than well spent. Shame on all the critics, even the South African government for pulling out of the project.
Archana says
Why shouldn’t she be able to create a premier school of excellence? Because it is in a developing country? Because the students are poor? The argument is lame – Oprah is doing something great – creating the Exeter, Andover, or Choate of Africa.