Oprah Winfrey on Impact of The Color Purple and New Movie Adaptation: ‘The Power of a Story Well Told’

Oprah Winfrey paid tribute to a particularly influential story. At the 74th National Book Awards & Benefit Dinner, held Wednesday in New York, Winfrey, 69, discussed the importance of diverse books and “all those young people who have found their voice in the books written for them or by them ” in speech. “I’m talking about readers who picked up Purple 40 years ago and found the truth I found on those pages,” she said before quoting a passage from the book.

‘The Color Purple’ by Alice Walker.

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Winfrey is the producer of the upcoming film musical based on the 1982 novel by Alice Walker, starring Halle Bailey, Taraji P. Henson and Jon Batiste. The film arrives in theaters on December 25, and it is an adaptation of a musical. Winfrey also played the character of Sofia in the original 1985 film, which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Halle Bailey says ‘Color Purple’ set was ‘like going to a cookout’: ‘It felt like a family reunion’

Walker made history when she became the first black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1983 for Purple. In her speech, Winfrey recounted the many ways the novel — which also won the 1983 National Book Award for Fiction — has been adapted over the years, culminating in “a movie version of that musical opening this Christmas in a theater near you.” “That’s the power of a well-told story,” she said. “Thank you Alice Walker.”

Oprah Winfrey.

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Considered one of America’s most prestigious literary awards, the National Book Awards recognize outstanding authors in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translated literature, and literature for young adults. Winfrey was honored as a special guest and ex Reading the Rainbow emcee LeVar Burton officiated the ceremony. First-time host Drew Barrymore had her invitation rescinded when she came under fire for continuing the daytime talk show before the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike earlier this year.

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In her speech, Winfrey also talked about the origins of Oprah’s Book Club and how it influenced her. Winfrey and her daytime talk show producer, Alice McGee, originally had “their own private book exchange” before McGee suggested that Winfrey start an official club. “I said, ‘Alice, you can’t do a show with authors who write fiction because the audience won’t know what we’re talking about,'” Winfrey recalled. “And she said, ‘They will if you give them time to read the book.’ And 27 years and 103 Book Club selections later, I am grateful for the sense of security, sense of purpose, and growth that this community has given me.’”

Oprah Winfrey in September 2023.

Ilya S. Savenok/Getty

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Winfrey also recognized other books that stood out to her over the years, such as Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, House for rabbits by Tess Gunty and I know why the caged bird sings by Maya Angelou. Winfrey mentioned that Angelou’s novel helped her understand the sexual abuse she experienced as a child. Before ending her speech, she touched on the importance of the right to read. Let everyone choose what to read, because that, dear friends, is called freedom,” she said.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education