Childhood
Oprah Gail Winfrey was born in Kosciusko Mississippi on January 29, 1954. When Oprah was born her parents had to give her a name . She was named after a character from the book titled, The Book Of Ruth. Her name was not common; therefore, people often mispronounced it. Even though some mispronounced it, Oprah continued to use it.
Oprah's mother was Vernita Lee and her father was Vernon Winfrey. Her mother decided to move to Milwaukee Wisconsin to find work. Oprah was sent to live on her grandmothers farm in Mississippi. At the age of 6, her grandmother became ill and Oprah was sent back to live with her mother and her half-sister Patricia in a boardinghouse in Milwaukee. Her mother worked as a maid cleaning houses and often depended on welfare to feed her children. After living with her mother for over a year she was was sent to live with her father and step mother Zelma since her mother could no longer care for her.
At 7 years old Oprah had her own bedroom for the first time. Her father and Zelma didn't have any children but where very happy to have Oprah with them.