Clair wrote:

I completely agree. TV and movie stars have enough award shows to tell the world how wonderful they are. We don't need Oprah to throw in our faces that she threw a party we weren't invited to.

posted at May 23, 2006 08:35 AM

Candace wrote:

I disagree - I thought it was a good reminder that it hasn't been that long since things were very different. The older women, like Coretta Scott King, Maya Angelou,Cicely Tyson and Ruby Dee often get forgotten amongst the Tyra's and Alicia's of our time. As I watched it I knew there would be people who would miss the point - it wasn't about an extravagant party, it was about saying thank you and celebrating just how far we have come, though we still have a long way to go. I thought it was lovely to see Coretta Scott King, now gone, being honored amongst the others in such a glorious, heartfelt way. Oprah is famous enough - she doesn't do these things for the glory, she does it to honor and enlighten.

posted at May 23, 2006 10:49 AM

Nygrah Begon wrote:

I agree with Candace. I am tired of people trying to trash Oprah. What she did was spectacular. Why wait until our elders are dead to celebrate them. They are the ones that made the sacrifices, so that we could take freedom for granted. It has only been 50 years since some of us were allowed to enjoy the equality we are still struggling for in this country. So yes, Oprah, please continue to celebrate those that would otherwise go unnotice until they are dead. And to those people who don't get involved until there's an earthquake, or someone in their family gets cancer...we don't need you anyway. The struggle continues...

posted at May 23, 2006 11:17 AM

Nygrah Begon wrote:

Oh, Chris Parker you're right. I think brilliant but cancelled is so much more poignant and effective in actually changing peoples lives. I can only imagine that you have led a significantly priveleged existence, because you obviously haven't factored in the significance of historical events to anyone but yourself.

posted at May 23, 2006 11:23 AM

Janet Malcolm wrote:

I think what Oprah did is great. But I agree -- why did she have to air it on TV? It diminishes what is a worthy event.

posted at May 23, 2006 11:53 AM

Judith Rosso wrote:

Whatt????? No fat-faced untalented Rachael Ray??
Oh, Oprah. Don't you know she is one of America's most influential people!!!
Shame on you. Or did you have her doing the cooking for the after-party.

posted at May 24, 2006 03:33 AM

Ceej wrote:

Why not air it on TV? For those of us NOT on the guest list, it was great to watch. My family and I watched to together. What a refreshing turn from the usual portrayal of black women on tv: video hoes and neck-rolling *itches.

On question tho': when was this taped? I was a bit alarmed at first to see Coretta Scott King, who passed away a number of months ago...

posted at May 24, 2006 06:30 PM

Frank wrote:

While not a member of the Oprah Cult, I think she's brilliant. The Ball should have included women of all races and ethnic backgrounds, to reflect and include those who buy her books, watch her shows and buy into her philosophy. Yes everyone got diamond earrings, but only one gets the diamond tiara and the publicity.

posted at May 25, 2006 02:47 PM

Dru wrote:

Wasn't this event a year ago?

posted at May 25, 2006 07:39 PM

Paula wrote:

I'm sorry to hear you sound a tad bit bitter. I almost never watch Oprah because I'm at work everyday, but I say more power to her. She may not be perfect, but she genuinely desires to help others...and she puts her money where her mouth is. That's integrity. I think she needs to capture every good deed on tape because we need to see it. She and her efforts are a ray of sunshine in a world of greed and self gratification. She is a good role model, and she will go down in history. We, as a society could use more like her. We can all learn from her. Search your heart and discover why her "hawking" her Tribute Ball on air bothers you. Why should good deeds go unnoticed? We are inundated every day with news of murders, robberies, war, human rights violations, and it goes on and on. We need to at least embrace a balance, if not for our own sanity then for our children's sake. There could have been a lot worse chosen for that time slot.

posted at May 25, 2006 08:47 PM

JDB wrote:

Including other races would have defeated the purpose of the Legends Ball, an event to honor black women who made a difference. No men were included either, that also would have defeated the purpose.

posted at May 25, 2006 10:48 PM

Tory wrote:

I agree with Candance also. Frank I think you missed the point. Oprah was saying thank you to the African American women legends. After all she still is african american. Yes we watch oprah's show and see a audience of majority white faces. Even when we watch TV and award shows its the same thing. The Grammys, The Emmys, The Day Time Emmys, The Tony Awards, The Oscars, The SAG awards, The Golden Globes. 90% are white american. We have come to realize that this is the way Hollywood operates. But Oprah has the financial means to honor and show respect to "her" race (she can't be responsible for every miniorty group)It had nothing to do with the people who watch her show and buy the books she recommends. In addition she deserves to wear her crown (tiara). Are we asking Trump to turn in his crown. Bill Gates(Microsoft), Arthur Blank (Home Depot),Ted Turner ,Rupert Murdoch (Fox News) I think not.

posted at May 25, 2006 11:07 PM

lily wrote:

For those obessed fans out there you can't see the light. Didn't you hear her one day bashing a rape victim for not reporting it by saying well i know it's not your fault but what where you thinking not to report it.. and making fun of a couple in debt because they were happy to get back 800 in taxes... she's just lost her way and she knows ppl will kiss her butt

posted at May 26, 2006 02:58 AM

Cheryl wrote:

I totally agree with Clair. Did we really have to fill our evening programming with watching Oprah host a number of people (some were white, like Diane Sawyer, John Travolta, etc.) in an outrageous event? I'm not interested in watching other people oggle over each other, unless of course I am one of them. Let's be honest with ourselves. Unless we are involved, we are not interested. There are so many people in the world that have done wonderful things for us all, whether they are black or white, or yellow or green... let's get over the separation thing and thank them all. Legends are made up of all colors and should not contine to be separated into colors. I'm tired of it always being a "black" thing or a "look at how great our sistas are doing". I do watch Oprah from time to time, but only if it is something that I think I will learn something from, not just because it was a bunch of handpicked people to attend a ball and thank each other. There are people who have opened doors for me too, but just because they are not movie stars, television personalities, etc. doesn't mean they are any less important. Thanks for reading my comment.

posted at May 27, 2006 08:19 AM

Scott wrote:

With the amount of money Oprah spent on this one party, couldn't she have fed all the people of Africa for 10 years?

posted at May 31, 2006 04:06 AM

tracy ford wrote:

I agree with Scott and Chris Parker: I think it is nauseating to see the self-gratulatory, self-indulgent, over-the-top self-promotion and ego boosting at a time when more people are struggling like never before. How tacky to shower all those celebrities with diamond earrings - as if they need them! As long as she does junk like that, I won't watch her.

posted at May 31, 2006 01:41 PM

Katie wrote:

I'm not that annoyed that it was televised... I'm more annoyed that, like everything she does, Oprah's name was in the title. It always has to be about her, even when she is honoring other people.

posted at June 1, 2006 07:33 PM

Allen wrote:

I still wonder why Oprah calls herself an african-american. Was she born in Africa? I was born in Alaska but that does not make me an eskimo!

posted at June 2, 2006 05:27 AM

mecca emma wrote:

Allen wrote:
I still wonder why Oprah calls herself an african-american. Was she born in Africa? I was born in Alaska but that does not make me an eskimo!

Race matters!! Having a white skin matters! Those who say color no longer matters are in for a surprise. If a white employer thinks a fellow white person has done well on a particular project there is praise, but if it is discovered that it was a person of color who actually completed the project, the reaction is "well, yeah OK, for a negro". Check out the Condi Rice bashing web sites, watermelon references included. We have to teach our young black women as I, the great-grandaughter of a slave, was taught: do twice as well to receive half the credit or no credit at all. Oprah is reminding us what the old ones went through. Some of us had to sit in the back and drink from the colored water fountain.

posted at June 3, 2006 03:36 PM

Joni wrote:

Diamond earrings? Didn't I hear about atrocious conditions IN Africa resulting from diamond mines? And she gave them as gifts?(rolls eyes)

posted at June 5, 2006 09:38 AM

peggy mcneill wrote:

Oprah has become so inflated and full of herself-yes, herself. I know she is rich, but does she constantly have to show just how rich? She is nauseating, and self-serving. Everything she does is for her own personal success. Some of you may disagree, but I am myself am waiting for her fall from grace.
Martha Stewart may be a b___, but she does not pretend to be anything else. And, she has talent.

posted at June 9, 2006 05:52 AM

Talisha Shelley wrote:

I laugh in the face of the ignorant comments I have just subjected myself to! And I say subjected myself to to prove a point...you ALL subjected YOURSELVES to watching the Legends Ball (some of you enough so to quote everything that happened) & yet still managed to find negativity(and you did have to find it) in a good deed. So what if she did air it? She is still in the TV industry & as someone who aspires to enter it too I think it made for d&^% good TV! Some ppl (Claire, Cheryl, Chris Parker & the like) complained that she aired it...your disdain for a black woman who flaunts her money is evident! Donald Trump sensationalized his millions & so do other caucasion million/billionares (ie: The Hiltons, etc.) with reality TV shows..and these shows are interesting. Anyway, I will defend Oprah Winfrey to the death...she is a top-notch human being with character & $. Why should you care if she should flaunt both of those facts? As a recent graduate, young, and AFRICAN-AMERICAN (Allen)--when our people robbed us of our own heritage we saw that American culture was the only culture we had ever know, however, our roots are from Africa--woman who seeks to make in Television, role models & heroes are few...Oprah is mine. Also, other minority groups have their own leaders to honor them. In closing, I would like to say that i felt an incredible since of obligation while watching the Legends Ball. It gave me hope for the future & showed me that black women can and have succeeded. YES! and we shall continue. I only pray that I can one day offend so many others with my good deeds & televised wealth as Oprah Winfrey!!!!!! LOL

posted at June 25, 2006 04:36 PM