at nine years old she was raped and bought off with an ice-cream cone to
bought off with an ice-cream cone to
bought off with an ice-cream cone to keep it quiet that she had been alone
keep it quiet that she had been alone
keep it quiet that she had been alone with her cousin she was pregnant by 14
with her cousin she was pregnant by 14
with her cousin she was pregnant by 14 she gave birth to a chance to redeem
she gave birth to a chance to redeem
she gave birth to a chance to redeem herself from all the pain she had seen
herself from all the pain she had seen
herself from all the pain she had seen in the span of a decade but two weeks
in the span of a decade but two weeks
in the span of a decade but two weeks later that chance passed away along with
later that chance passed away along with
later that chance passed away along with their hopes of making something out of
their hopes of making something out of
their hopes of making something out of nothing to recover from her shame her
nothing to recover from her shame her
nothing to recover from her shame her name is Oprah Winfrey when he was two
name is Oprah Winfrey when he was two
name is Oprah Winfrey when he was two years old he was estranged by his dad
years old he was estranged by his dad
years old he was estranged by his dad with whom he shared the same name and he
with whom he shared the same name and he
with whom he shared the same name and he could never avoid the insults at school
could never avoid the insults at school
could never avoid the insults at school because the color of his skin and the
because the color of his skin and the
because the color of his skin and the size of his ears weren’t considered cool
size of his ears weren’t considered cool
size of his ears weren’t considered cool and when he looked at himself they did
and when he looked at himself they did
and when he looked at himself they did not seem to get any clearer but there
not seem to get any clearer but there
not seem to get any clearer but there was something wrong with the man that he
was something wrong with the man that he
was something wrong with the man that he saw in the mirror but Barack Obama is
saw in the mirror but Barack Obama is
saw in the mirror but Barack Obama is his name when you look all these times
his name when you look all these times
his name when you look all these times that have shown that nothing is ever
that have shown that nothing is ever
that have shown that nothing is ever really set in stone it’s hard not to
really set in stone it’s hard not to
really set in stone it’s hard not to wonder who ever thought that our past
wonder who ever thought that our past
wonder who ever thought that our past has to show any indication of her future
has to show any indication of her future
has to show any indication of her future because then Obama never would have
because then Obama never would have
because then Obama never would have become a side for change and Oprah might
become a side for change and Oprah might
become a side for change and Oprah might still be hanging her head in shame and I
still be hanging her head in shame and I
still be hanging her head in shame and I probably would not be up here today I
was a shy kid growing up and I had stage
was a shy kid growing up and I had stage fright it’s kind of ironic isn’t it but
fright it’s kind of ironic isn’t it but
fright it’s kind of ironic isn’t it but from kindergarten my words were trapped
from kindergarten my words were trapped
from kindergarten my words were trapped inside my mouth handcuffed by thoughts
inside my mouth handcuffed by thoughts
inside my mouth handcuffed by thoughts that convicted me of a reality of
that convicted me of a reality of
that convicted me of a reality of mediocrity I had formed the illusion
mediocrity I had formed the illusion
mediocrity I had formed the illusion inside my head that the things I said we
inside my head that the things I said we
inside my head that the things I said we run exciting at most I was not ready to
run exciting at most I was not ready to
run exciting at most I was not ready to step out of my comfort zone it was my
step out of my comfort zone it was my
step out of my comfort zone it was my home the one place I knew I could always
home the one place I knew I could always
home the one place I knew I could always count on to keep me safe because forget
count on to keep me safe because forget
count on to keep me safe because forget sticks and stones
sticks and stones
sticks and stones it’s can crush our dreams you can try
it’s can crush our dreams you can try
it’s can crush our dreams you can try put a band-aid over the bruise what the
put a band-aid over the bruise what the
put a band-aid over the bruise what the blood will just strip through the seams
blood will just strip through the seams
blood will just strip through the seams nobody wants to hear that they can’t
nobody wants to hear that they can’t
nobody wants to hear that they can’t defy gravity nobody wants to hear that
defy gravity nobody wants to hear that
defy gravity nobody wants to hear that they don’t have the key but they don’t
they don’t have the key but they don’t
they don’t have the key but they don’t got what it takes and even though our
got what it takes and even though our
got what it takes and even though our backgrounds create a collage of
backgrounds create a collage of
backgrounds create a collage of different shapes and sizes and
different shapes and sizes and
different shapes and sizes and compromises our imperfections and
compromises our imperfections and
compromises our imperfections and rejections leave us all trapped in the
rejections leave us all trapped in the
rejections leave us all trapped in the same box labeled inadequate my comfort
same box labeled inadequate my comfort
same box labeled inadequate my comfort zone was my home the place I knew I
zone was my home the place I knew I
zone was my home the place I knew I could go to avoid all the titles and
could go to avoid all the titles and
could go to avoid all the titles and labels so I locked my voice into a box
labels so I locked my voice into a box
labels so I locked my voice into a box that meant only I you’d have to find the
that meant only I you’d have to find the
that meant only I you’d have to find the key so I didn’t have to hear the
key so I didn’t have to hear the
key so I didn’t have to hear the multitudes of ways people use their
multitudes of ways people use their
multitudes of ways people use their voice to define mine because sometimes
voice to define mine because sometimes
voice to define mine because sometimes when we take a step out of the comforts
when we take a step out of the comforts
when we take a step out of the comforts of our own home we step into a war zone
of our own home we step into a war zone
of our own home we step into a war zone of judgment put downs and opinions and
of judgment put downs and opinions and
of judgment put downs and opinions and sometimes we’ll get shot straight in the
sometimes we’ll get shot straight in the
sometimes we’ll get shot straight in the chest and people will leave us with
chest and people will leave us with
chest and people will leave us with bruises and excuses as to why we could
bruises and excuses as to why we could
bruises and excuses as to why we could never be good enough and most times we
never be good enough and most times we
never be good enough and most times we can try and escape but our confidence is
can try and escape but our confidence is
can try and escape but our confidence is not in good enough shape to fight off
not in good enough shape to fight off
not in good enough shape to fight off all the words that stick in our brains
unable unmotivated subpar my comfort
unable unmotivated subpar my comfort zone was my home and a lot of the time
zone was my home and a lot of the time
zone was my home and a lot of the time it just kind of went that way because
it just kind of went that way because
it just kind of went that way because there are so many aspirations that have
there are so many aspirations that have
there are so many aspirations that have been broken and thousands of dreams that
been broken and thousands of dreams that
been broken and thousands of dreams that people have left unspoken because flames
people have left unspoken because flames
people have left unspoken because flames of enthusiasm were put out with a splash
of enthusiasm were put out with a splash
of enthusiasm were put out with a splash of ridicule and I never wanted to be the
of ridicule and I never wanted to be the
of ridicule and I never wanted to be the same but when I think of Oprah and how
same but when I think of Oprah and how
same but when I think of Oprah and how she recovered from her shame and I think
she recovered from her shame and I think
she recovered from her shame and I think of Obama and all that he became I have
of Obama and all that he became I have
of Obama and all that he became I have to ask
we are all fighting on this battleground
we are all fighting on this battleground trying to defend ourselves from bullets
trying to defend ourselves from bullets
trying to defend ourselves from bullets aimed at our confidence dying to live to
aimed at our confidence dying to live to
aimed at our confidence dying to live to attack some people who shoot daggers
attack some people who shoot daggers
attack some people who shoot daggers into our aspirations people who leave us
into our aspirations people who leave us
into our aspirations people who leave us surrendering to standards and
surrendering to standards and
surrendering to standards and expectations people who doubt that we
expectations people who doubt that we
expectations people who doubt that we will ever see it through people who we
will ever see it through people who we
will ever see it through people who we will never hear say the words I believe
will never hear say the words I believe
will never hear say the words I believe in you
there are so many aspirations that have
there are so many aspirations that have been broken and thousands of dreams that
been broken and thousands of dreams that
been broken and thousands of dreams that people have left unspoken because people
people have left unspoken because people
people have left unspoken because people measure our capacities by what they’ve
measure our capacities by what they’ve
measure our capacities by what they’ve seen in the past by our failures for
seen in the past by our failures for
seen in the past by our failures for what they don’t see is a time as we get
what they don’t see is a time as we get
what they don’t see is a time as we get up early to push ourselves a little
up early to push ourselves a little
up early to push ourselves a little further and what they don’t see is a
further and what they don’t see is a
further and what they don’t see is a time sweet down the inside when they
time sweet down the inside when they
time sweet down the inside when they tell us to try a little harder and what
tell us to try a little harder and what
tell us to try a little harder and what they don’t see is a fire that burns
they don’t see is a fire that burns
they don’t see is a fire that burns inside of us to show that we are good
inside of us to show that we are good
inside of us to show that we are good enough so prove them wrong we are all
enough so prove them wrong we are all
enough so prove them wrong we are all fighting on this battleground trying to
fighting on this battleground trying to
fighting on this battleground trying to defend ourselves and bullets aimed at
defend ourselves and bullets aimed at
defend ourselves and bullets aimed at our confidence trying not to give in to
our confidence trying not to give in to
our confidence trying not to give in to the notions in our head that convinced
the notions in our head that convinced
the notions in our head that convinced us to give up instead of pushing through
us to give up instead of pushing through
us to give up instead of pushing through to the end trying not to give in to the
to the end trying not to give in to the
to the end trying not to give in to the impression that because we have tried
impression that because we have tried
impression that because we have tried and failed and cried and broken down
and failed and cried and broken down
and failed and cried and broken down that our breakdowns indicate defeat and
that our breakdowns indicate defeat and
that our breakdowns indicate defeat and defeat indicates a treat but retreat
defeat indicates a treat but retreat
defeat indicates a treat but retreat leads us down a path to a destination
leads us down a path to a destination
leads us down a path to a destination where we know we are not supposed to be
where we know we are not supposed to be
where we know we are not supposed to be so prove them wrong
we are all fighting on this battleground
we are all fighting on this battleground trying to defend ourselves from bullets
trying to defend ourselves from bullets
trying to defend ourselves from bullets aimed at our confidence but taking a hit
aimed at our confidence but taking a hit
aimed at our confidence but taking a hit does not mean that it is over because
does not mean that it is over because
does not mean that it is over because our battle scars are just bits and
our battle scars are just bits and
our battle scars are just bits and pieces of the masterpiece that all our
pieces of the masterpiece that all our
pieces of the masterpiece that all our fears our history and our struggles will
fears our history and our struggles will
fears our history and our struggles will one day create and it is going to be so
one day create and it is going to be so
one day create and it is going to be so great when we can look back and realize
great when we can look back and realize
great when we can look back and realize that there really was something in us
that there really was something in us
that there really was something in us that no artist could ever paint and no
that no artist could ever paint and no
that no artist could ever paint and no sculptor could ever make but we have got
sculptor could ever make but we have got
sculptor could ever make but we have got to be willing to try and that’s
to be willing to try and that’s
to be willing to try and that’s something that took me 14 years to
something that took me 14 years to
something that took me 14 years to realize we can’t stay inside our comfort
realize we can’t stay inside our comfort
realize we can’t stay inside our comfort zones and hide that we have to have that
zones and hide that we have to have that
zones and hide that we have to have that drive we have to know that ambition is
drive we have to know that ambition is
drive we have to know that ambition is going to be a lonely road that will
going to be a lonely road that will
going to be a lonely road that will always look like it’s leading us to
always look like it’s leading us to
always look like it’s leading us to nowhere and we have to know that we will
nowhere and we have to know that we will
nowhere and we have to know that we will meet people along the way that will
meet people along the way that will
meet people along the way that will convince us to turn back because the end
convince us to turn back because the end
convince us to turn back because the end of the road is just pitch black and that
of the road is just pitch black and that
of the road is just pitch black and that we are bound to drown in a sea of
we are bound to drown in a sea of
we are bound to drown in a sea of ordinary we’ve got to believe that
ordinary we’ve got to believe that
ordinary we’ve got to believe that there’s something in us that cause us to
there’s something in us that cause us to
there’s something in us that cause us to go down that path in the first place but
go down that path in the first place but
go down that path in the first place but there’s something in us that nobody
there’s something in us that nobody
there’s something in us that nobody could ever erase that there is something
could ever erase that there is something
could ever erase that there is something in us that is so much more than just our
in us that is so much more than just our
in us that is so much more than just our circumstances that is so much more than
circumstances that is so much more than
circumstances that is so much more than our failures that is so much more than
our failures that is so much more than
our failures that is so much more than other people’s opinions of us that is so
other people’s opinions of us that is so
other people’s opinions of us that is so much more than our terror than our
much more than our terror than our
much more than our terror than our fright than the things that never ever
fright than the things that never ever
fright than the things that never ever seemed to go right we are so much more
Winfrey has gone through so much more
Winfrey has gone through so much more than the average human she was raped
than the average human she was raped
than the average human she was raped repeatedly molested by family members
repeatedly molested by family members
repeatedly molested by family members she had a baby lost her baby lost her
she had a baby lost her baby lost her
she had a baby lost her baby lost her brother to AIDS and lost her job for
brother to AIDS and lost her job for
brother to AIDS and lost her job for being too emotional yet today she is
being too emotional yet today she is
being too emotional yet today she is considered one of the most influential
considered one of the most influential
considered one of the most influential woman of our time and then there’s Obama
woman of our time and then there’s Obama
woman of our time and then there’s Obama Obama went looking in a mirror and
Obama went looking in a mirror and
Obama went looking in a mirror and wondering if there was something wrong
wondering if there was something wrong
wondering if there was something wrong with the man he would see suspending
with the man he would see suspending
with the man he would see suspending eight years of his life reading a
eight years of his life reading a
eight years of his life reading a country so what about you what’s
country so what about you what’s
country so what about you what’s stopping you I cannot stress enough that
stopping you I cannot stress enough that
stopping you I cannot stress enough that there are too many aspirations that have
there are too many aspirations that have
there are too many aspirations that have been broken and millions of dreams that
been broken and millions of dreams that
been broken and millions of dreams that people leave unspoken but we cannot be
people leave unspoken but we cannot be
people leave unspoken but we cannot be the same because we are so much more and
the same because we are so much more and
the same because we are so much more and it’s our responsibility to go after what
it’s our responsibility to go after what
it’s our responsibility to go after what we want so when the day comes for us to
we want so when the day comes for us to
we want so when the day comes for us to leave this earth we will be able to look
leave this earth we will be able to look
leave this earth we will be able to look back and be satisfied so get better push
back and be satisfied so get better push
back and be satisfied so get better push further fight longer do all that you can
further fight longer do all that you can
further fight longer do all that you can to break down your walls and do all that
to break down your walls and do all that
to break down your walls and do all that you can to show those people who made
you can to show those people who made
you can to show those people who made you feel small because our failures will
you feel small because our failures will
you feel small because our failures will never overtake us if our drive to
never overtake us if our drive to
never overtake us if our drive to succeed is strong enough and our valleys
succeed is strong enough and our valleys
succeed is strong enough and our valleys will never be too deep if the mountain
will never be too deep if the mountain
will never be too deep if the mountain we want to climb is high enough but most
we want to climb is high enough but most
we want to climb is high enough but most importantly our race will never seem to
importantly our race will never seem to
importantly our race will never seem to long if the destination is worthy enough
long if the destination is worthy enough
long if the destination is worthy enough and as we go along we will encounter
and as we go along we will encounter
and as we go along we will encounter obstacle after obstacle and defeat after
obstacle after obstacle and defeat after
obstacle after obstacle and defeat after defeat if we push hard enough if we
defeat if we push hard enough if we
defeat if we push hard enough if we fight long enough
fight long enough
fight long enough and if we work hard enough then we will
and if we work hard enough then we will
and if we work hard enough then we will never ever be defeated thank you
never ever be defeated thank you
never ever be defeated thank you [Applause]
”
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