Monday afternoon I received a Facebook message from my mom with a link to Oprah Winfrey’s speech from the Golden Globes.

During our phone call a few hours later she asked me if I had watched it yet. She then told me Winfrey’s speech moved her to tears.

After this information, I quickly got off the phone and watched immediately.

Winfrey is the first black female to receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award and gave one of the most empowering speeches that every woman deserves to hear and reflect on.

She spoke with elegance and prestige.

Winfrey reflected on watching Sidney Poitier win the award in 1964 as she sat on the floor of her mother’s house.

“I’d never seen a black man being celebrated like that. I tried many, many times to explain what a moment like that means to a little girl,” she said.

She then said “it is not lost on me,” and I truly believe that.

As a journalist I found myself screaming “yes” at my phone when she spoke out about how important the press is, how important it is to have “absolute truth that keeps us from turning a blind eye to corruption and to injustice.”

Winfrey said the press is the most powerful tool we have, and I couldn’t agree more, but then she shifted to talk about the “Me Too” movement, and that is what truly stuck with me.

This past year something has changed in America.

Women have found the courage and strength to share their stories and speak out on sexual abuse and violence.

I think Winfrey brought attention to the fact that there are women that have had to endure years of abuse and assault because they’ve had “children to feed and bills to pay and dreams to pursue. They’re the women whose names we’ll never know.”

It’s been shocking to see the names of actors, directors, artists and musicians that we once valued and respected show up on the news under investigation for sexual abuse, assault or misconduct.

As a woman, it’s terrifying and I think Winfrey gave a speech that empowers all women to speak up and be strong.

This speech is something that needs to be taken into consideration, and men and women should both listen, because there is a truth written beneath the words that we all need to hear.

In this time during our history it’s more important than ever to understand the power you have with your voice. Whether it’s through journalism or speaking out, or even just putting a simple hashtag with two words that has a monumental effect.

As Winfrey said “speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have.”

And I agree that we should fight hard to make sure “nobody ever has to say ‘me too’ again.”

Thank you Oprah.

#OPRAH4PREZ2020