You’ve probably heard that Oprah Winfrey accepted the Cecil B. DeMille award at the 2018 Golden Globes and gave one of the most powerful speeches of 2018. In the weeks following the Award Show, her speech became the waving flag of the #TimesUp and #MeToo campaign: at the Golden Globes, artists sported a #TimesUp pin on their black gowns and tuxedos to take a stance against the sexual assault, abuse, and misogyny present in Hollywood. The #TimesUp and #MeToo campaigns resonated in the media and have been illuminating a crucial issue: the deeply rooted misogyny and patriarchal power relations within the entertainment industry. Winfrey’s words echoed the nucleus of those campaigns and stressed the importance of speaking out against prejudice and sexism; she emphasized the importance of protecting vulnerable women and survivors who are the most impacted by this system.
This is an important time to speak out against violence, sexism, racism, discrimination and division, especially given the new direction of political winds following the election of US President Trump. “Fake News” has been hugely impacting our world, menacing the credibility of our journalists, press, and media. The State is meant to protect and educate us while the media provides the platform on which we think critically about how the State functions. Both need to function freely and with integrity if democracy is to work as it should. In light of how “Fake News” impacted 2017, Oprah openly thanked the press, saying that “I value the press more than ever before as we try to navigate these complicated times.” Winfrey united the dedication of the media and the endurance of multiple women who have also resisted by coming forward to speak out against sexual abuse and misconduct. Not only did she address the misconduct present in the entertainment industry but she stressed the importance of why these campaigns matter now more than ever. She spoke about why we should all stand in solidarity with women around the world despite whatever racial, gender, socioeconomic, or family differences we may have, because “for too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dared speak the truth to the power of those men. But their time is up.”
Oprah Winfrey is the first black woman to be honoured with the Cecil B. DeMille award at the Golden Globes and she recalled her first time seeing Sidney Poitier in 1964 accepting the same award and sharing the same stage — the first black awardee. She spoke of that fond memory in order to inspire little girls from around the world; there is hope for others as there was hope for her back then.
The Cecil B. DeMille recipient this year used her commitment to explicitly stand in solidarity with women and men around the world who suffer from the violence and injustice of our systemic prejudice.Winfrey declares that a “new day is on the horizon! And when that new day finally dawns, it will be because of a lot of magnificent women, and some phenomenal men, fighting hard to make sure that they become the leaders who take us to the time when nobody ever has to say ‘me too’ again.”
