Rhea L. Combs

Watching Oprah: The Oprah Winfrey Show and American Culture considers the story and impact of Oprah Winfrey in her many roles: as host of a world-famous television talk show; as an actress, film producer, and media mogul; as a philanthropist and educator; and as a daughter of the civil rights generation whose phenomenal story of success illuminates the struggles and achievements of African American women throughout history.

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Museum visitors will come to better understand how Winfrey and The Oprah Winfrey Show reflected and influenced changes in American society, especially in regards to issues of race, gender, and the mass media.

The exhibition features original artifacts from Harpo Studios in Chicago, home of The Oprah Winfrey Showfor over two decades, along with other items from the personal collection of Oprah Winfrey. Photographs and video provide additional context and illuminate key topics and themes. The exhibition content is organized into three primary sections, "America Shapes Oprah," "The Oprah Winfrey Show, " and "Oprah Shapes America."