Oprah On Recent Protests: 'I'm Looking For Leadership'

[Big Boss]

Oprah Winfrey has been watching the protests in Ferguson and New York like everyone else.

"I think it's wonderful to march and to protest and it's wonderful to see all across the country, people doing it," she tells PEOPLE exclusively.

But it's not enough to march, says Winfrey.

"What I'm looking for is some kind of leadership to come out of this to say, 'This is what we want. This is what has to change, and these are the steps that we need to take to make these changes, and this is what we're willing to do to get it.' "

David Oyelowo, who plays Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the film Selma adds, "And you saw that in the way black and white, young and old, came together to say, 'This is not okay.' "


Winfrey's latest film couldn't be timelier, chronicling the story behind Martin Luther King Jr.'s work to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The movie is nominated for several Golden Globes, including best picture and best actor, and has strong Oscar buzz heading into awards season.

"I think what can be gleaned from our film," says Winfrey, "is to take note of the strategic, peaceful intention required when you want real change."


http://www.people.com/article/oprah-winfrey-david-oyelowo-selma-protests-ferguson

 

[HoloGraphic]

Leadership would be crucial right now. The next Martin, hopefully Malcolm showing up to crush buildings.

But I'm at home scheming like

 

[Dwolf]

Yeah because shes not in a position to do it right

 

[Meadow]

Oprah needs to take several seats

 

[KingTut]

Funny how all these rich ass nikkas talking about "where's the leadership"... like you really think regular people wit 9 to 5's or someone without a college education has the time for that shyt? Why don't one of these millionaires take the initiative to lead... fukk we look like quitting our jobs and becoming homeless to go around the country campaigning for change. shyt makes no damn sense.

 

[At30wecashout]

Leadership = Easy target to corrupt with money, or assassinate, be it through character or killing them outright.

We don't need leaders, we need Group Economics(tired term, but shyt) and declare economic war with within our communities against any
entity that seeks to funnel the money OUT. Even with jobs our neighborhoods stay poor cause none of the money circulates. Economic prowess
will suddenly put blacks in a position control districts, then whole counties. Fix education where the federal, state, and local governments have failed.
Opt to kill subsidies for needless shyt and reinvest in our neighborhood infrastructures.

But yall don't wanna hear that. Lets destroy shyt and realize "shyt, we can't afford to go anywhere else!"

Peaceful protests are great, putting what money we have into enriching our neighborhoods is even better.

 

[Sterling Archer]

bytch you're a billionaire. And made those billions caping and shucking for cacs. That's like me being a strong black man, telling my son he needs to find a strong black man to look up to.

Since you so concerned about leadership, why not you Oprah? Someone who no longer requires to play along with society's rules against us to stay afloat. You have more money than you can spend in several lifetimes recklessly. What do YOU have to lose? You don't even have any kids to be concern yourself with. Why don't you financially back a black man with the will to be a leader so he can support his family responsibly regardless of the cac manipulation of funds and equity that would normally befall him?

 

[Flash Thunderton]

Nah you know what I'm tired of all these nikkas and bytches talking about "we need a leader".

A single leader won't do shyt for us at all, if people led their own communities like everyfukkinbody else does that would help 100% more. Instead of coming together and helping all people want somebody they can pin everything on.

Mothafukkas to damn busy being on some "where's our leader" shyt but don't do ANYTHING on their own ground.

Tell me one group that has one singular clear leader succeeding at anything in today's world?

 

[Dreadknox77]

I think she's right, revolution and things of the sort is usually needs a strong youthful impact, they older people had their time and its now time to find a new leader with fresh ideas to move things forward.
Not that we should forget the older folks because we need their guidance, but I felt the same watching the protests, I kept asking myself..who is leading this??

 

[Jhoon]

Funny how all these rich ass nikkas talking about "where's the leadership"... like you really think regular people wit 9 to 5's or someone without a college education has the time for that shyt? Why don't one of these millionaires take the initiative to lead... fukk we look like quitting our jobs and becoming homeless to go around the country campaigning for change. shyt makes no damn sense.

It gives them cover as they continue to enjoy their lifestyle.

Folks look at the poor with disgust and then condescendly asks why the poor folks dont sacrifice themselves for others.

 

[Mowgli]

*im looking for the next black man we can sacrifice to the cacs for another elaborate con game*

 

[zerozero]

I think protests are mainly a 'signaling' mechanism.... the protests in New York had a bullet point list but did that help? Who is going to implement the list?

Once lawmakers and people in power get off their chair and go "this isn't working out anymore..." because they see the desire for change, that's when they sit down and start figuring out the exact legislation

Here's a concrete example: The affordable care act wasn't a finalized booklet handed to the president & congress by anyone... people voted for Obama who campaigned on healthcare reform and then the legislative & policy experts got down to finalizing it and making it a law.

 

[El Bombi]

Be the richest African American in the World and ask for leadership brehs.

 

[cylde21]

Leadership = Easy target to corrupt with money, or assassinate, be it through character or killing them outright.

We don't need leaders, we need Group Economics(tired term, but shyt) and declare economic war with within our communities against any
entity that seeks to funnel the money OUT. Even with jobs our neighborhoods stay poor cause none of the money circulates. Economic prowess
will suddenly put blacks in a position control districts, then whole counties. Fix education where the federal, state, and local governments have failed.
Opt to kill subsidies for needless shyt and reinvest in our neighborhood infrastructures.

But yall don't wanna hear that. Lets destroy shyt and realize "shyt, we can't afford to go anywhere else!"

Peaceful protests are great, putting what money we have into enriching our neighborhoods is even better.

Peaceful protests were not great stop using emotions it gave but what solid results happened it didnt even go after the problem. Imo it was attention seeking .Agree wiv stuff said but also need more relevance in action such as we need owners in feilds like stem who reinvest in the commmunities and 2 start distancing reliance on this system. Sustainability is g8 but these bussiness have 2 be international competitive . Have tink tanks and access 2 real info wud be key also. Groups and not single leaders but numerous people who can show an example ie starting our on system that gets refind , developed

 

[Soundbwoy]

If she was to claim leadership of that movement there would be a general because she wasnt there since the beginning, it wouldn't been seen as genuine. I do believe out of the Ferguson movement there will be a few future leaders