Good post. I missed this. I’m not an Oprah fan, but I agree with her on this one. It’s sad that black kids in America will more than likely not appreciate a school as much as black kids in other countries like Africa. just look at the amount of Black book stores here that close down every day. The culture here is just not geared for them to see the value in an education. So there we’ve said it for you Oprah.

Its the way of the world… If I ain’t gettin nothin from it f-ck it. I’m not mad at Oprah she wants to help them out go ahead. At least shes tryin to help a wide spread majority of their people instead of goin shoppin for a new baby… Oh yeah expect more of that too you know people are gonna be on that again.. gotta get them new 07 babies you can’t be out strollin a 06 model ya know.

The only thing with this I don’t see is changin the face of South Africa… and Oprah seem to got this world domination mentality sometimes I do understand where that person from Chi Town is comin from but at some point you gotta know Oprah ain’t these kids moms and she damn sure ain’t no Joe Clark.

I have to respect Oprah for spending her hard earned cash the way she sees fit! She’s under no obligation to help anyone. So for her to be critisized for not helping people who already don’t appreciate or utilize the tolls and opportuniteis available to them is absolutely disgusting.

Oprah has done plenty for her people here in the US and should not be put on trial for not further enabeling ungreatful people who assume no responsibility for themselves or their situations.

kudos oprah! yes i think it is long over.  i believe the little girls from africa will appreciate the opportunity that was giving them.and no she should have not used her money here to build anything because too many benefits are expected by african -americans(yes i am black)it angers me for my race to assume they should be giving everything.when in fact when we are we abuse it or do not even use it at all. i know these girls in africa will make oprah proud that she helped. so once again kudos to you oprah you will be truly blessed!

You go Oprah!!!!!  Critics be damned!!!  I do believe in helping your own people and/or country before helping someone or something else in another country.  But here’s the thing…Oprah HAS!!!  She has donated so much over the years to organizations and causes and helping Katrina victims…the list probably goes on for ever.  And if Oprah sees fit to do good in another country, for children on an educational level…..KUDOS to Oprah!  Oprah doesn’t HAVE to do what she does…..but she does it anyway out of the kindness and generosity of her heart.  And God Bless her for that!!!  If she wants a lavish school, to pamper the children who are fortunate to have been chosen to go there…than so be it….These young girls and women deserve it…who are we to judge anyway on how Oprah spends her money???  Like I said…You go girl!!!

Hey all you hatters stop it.. She is a good Samaritian who does good where she sees it best. If you had the money now one has the right to start telling you they have some sort of right to tell you where to put the money? Just because I bought a copy of windows from Bill Gates does that give me the right to tell him where to invest his money? I think the attitude of self entitlement should stop.. More power to Oprah.

I wonder if these critics have ever been to Africa.  If not, I say they have no business saying a word about what Oprah is doing.  I am often criticized for doing volunteer work in various countries in Africa and for my PhD educational focus on African justice systems.  I often hear the same bullshit comment of “why are you helping people thousands of miles away”, “why not help those right here”.  My response is that in the U.S. there is opportunity.  Any person in the US has the opportunity to make something of themselves, including getting an education or even non-educated work.  That is not necessarily the case in many parts of Africa.  When I visit Africa I am continually amazed at the spirit of the African people and how thankful they are for any help.  The do not expect, expect, expect (like so many Americans do).  One amazing example of this was when I volunteered in Malawi.  We were making mud bricks to build the walls of an aids center.  In order to do this we had to sift dirt to separate the rock from the fine silt.  We did this by throwing the dirt with a shovel up on a large screen.  An African man with one arm saw that I was struggling to do this and he came over and helped me. He picked up a shovel with his one hand and hurled dirt up on the screen. I could barely do it with both hands.  He did this with a smile on his face and for no pay.  He was just glad to do something to help.  I am disappointed in the people that criticize Oprah for doing something important and helpful.  It just goes to show how shallow many American really are and how uneducated many Americans are about world matters.  Good job Oprah.  I am proud of you as an American woman that has a heart of gold and the means to help so many people around the world.

Education exists for America’s kids. What stops them from getting it is not $$. Problems at home, drugs, apathy, etc. are the real issues. All of Oprah’s money would not change that. I say give it all to those poor kids that are starving for some text books in Africa!

Well it seems to me that Oprah is trying but don’t you think $40 Million dollars (US) could help alot more Africans if spent on the needs of the people than by creating a lavish elitest school for a handful of soon-to-be americanized spoiled brats? I agree with Peyam

I am from Africa and I know that we appreciate an education more than folks around.  In America you can opt out of school and with access to credit and jobs (however minial) can afford a home, a car etc.  In the developing world an education is the only inheritance you can ask for.  If you help one African woman, you have helped a whole village and oprahs efforts will bless generations.  As for Linda Stasi, thank God for your freedom in America, you can run your mouth while the rest us celebrate the gift.  An African proverb for you…. “The frogs eyes have never stopped drinking at the river”

Has anyone on this forum had a chance to attend both an innercity school, and a school in the suburbs??  I have and all I can say is that the difference in books, equipment, condition, and teachers is night and day.  The teachers in the innercity schools are so non-motivated(but can you blame them)it is no wonder the drop out rate is much higher in inner city schools than in suburb schools.  Oprah’s intentions were good, but it was a bad decision.  The $40 mil would have been much better spent here in the U.S. 

Has anyone ever thought that some of her decision could be swayed a little by the pr that this decision would give her.  Oprah is always doing dramatic things to get attention.  Remember her giving away like 80-somthing cars at her show?  Nice gesture, but of course she new she would get some good pr.  She helps some people in need….and herself.

To: Phila- You need to go back to school and learn how to write and speak

I can’t believe someone has the odacity to insult or question Oprah’s motives. She built a school with 40 million of her own money when she could have just bought herself another home or something else. Yes I agree schools in America need help but we place to much of the blame on the schools and not on the parents who are not putting in the time with their kids. What people don’t understand is that there is always somewhere in America where a child can go and learn whether it be at school or in the public libraries. Anyone who wants a better life can find it in America through hard work and determination. The same can not be said about other countries especially third world countries. She is giving these girls a chance which they so richly deserve as do all children in the world. The opportunity to better one’s life. Thank you Oprah for setting an example to all.

This is the most telling statement…

Here is a school that she promised to Nelson Mandela, hits to a cause
near her heart and is intended to provide something special where
there is nothing and the response by some in America is.. ‘Why didn’t
she open the school here?’

She promised it to Nelson Mandela.  She’s done a whole lot here, and
is quite under appreciated in certain circles for all that she does…
get off her back… charity is from the heart, i.e. what you feel that
is right according to you.  If some of her detractors want to get
together and build a school, let them do so, where they want to,
spending how much they want to.  Otherwise, step off the woman….

It’s almost hard to react to Linda Stassi’s remarks simply b/c she sounds so unbelievably ignorant.  Children in this country have the OPTION to goto school.  It’s nice to see someone try to spend large amounts of money on humanity instead of bombing other countries for oil money.  This country is so goddamn caught up in how great we are and how we don’t need to worry about the rest of the world.  Thanks Oprah.  I’m glad there are still people out there who really do care.  Linda, you’re an idiot.

... Na I’m coo.

Hahaa you on a site called Whudat and your tellin people to write properly…. wow.

Yo Chris fa real when did this shit go to the burbs?

Ight hold up let’s try it again.

Oprah is such a swell person. She’s so gosh darn nice for helping out those little indigenous African babies. Now they can ehance their lives on an intellectual level by replenishing the education they’ve been so flagrantly deprived of. Then they will come to realize their true perspicacity. Good golly this whole experience should prove to be quite riveting…. Indeed.

I am an African American single (divorced) mother who has opted to homeschool my child, because I do not have the resources, at this time, to send him to a decent private grammar school.  He went to a private kindergarten and was accepted at a magnet school in the city of Chicago.  During the first week, I realized how low the standards were set by his first grade teacher.  Also, everything she was teaching her first graders, he had already learned at preschool, at home, and in kindergarten.  Therefore, I have opted to homeschool him, until next year when he will attend a private Christian school on scholarship.

Our neighborhood school is overcrowded and full of unruly, undisciplined children which is why I applied to a magnet school; I was overjoyed when my son was accepted, and then majorly disppointed after his first week at school.  After speaking with his teacher, it was obvious to me that she did not have high expectations for the children in her class.

Although I am a single parent, I work from home, so I can homeschool my son without having to rely upon public assistance.  Education is extremely important to me, and I have conveyed this to my son.  For Oprah, or anyone else, to make broad generalizations about inner city children is inappropriate.  Perhaps she didn’t visit the schools where the children were eager to learn, or perhaps she should have sought out the rare African American parent who is homeschooling his or her child, so the child will not have to attend an inferior public school.

oprah has done the most generous thing and i think everybody should praise her.she has done so much for her country and it seems that they dont appreciatte it,therefore she might as well do it for the african people who will always appreciatte and remember her.keep up the good work oprah you are and will always be the best

Oprah can do whatever she wants with her money that she worked hard for. I like the idea that Oprah design and had a school build for the kids of Africa. Just because Oprah is not handing out gifts to the people of United States, everybody have something to say about the school in Africa.

Who the @*%^*@# is Linda Stassi. Is this somebody trying to coattail herself into fame? I have problems with what Oprah said about kids in the USA. But I have a bigger problem with the fact it’s true. Whether it’s Bill Cosby (who has truly given) or Oprah, why do we insist on shooting the messenger because the message is unpleasant but true.

This is about greed and passing the buck. As long as Oprah is giving here, cool but if she gives somewhere else then she’s the worst thing going. Ok, all you haters, make a list of everything you think Oprah should do with HER MONEY that she’s EARNED and then go do it your damn selves. All you haters out there need to be exorcised and either prayed for or prayed on.

These reporters (I use the term reporter loosely) need to do some research about Oprah. Have any of them heard of Oprah’s 100 Men of Moorehouse!!???  She’s done plenty here when she doesn’t have to. Why not Africa? When you have nothing you can appreciate when you are given something…such as opportunites. Inner city kids and parents don’t appreciate anything, they feel entitled. Also, they place no value in education, I’m a teacher in a low income school, I see if first hand. People need to get a life.

Oprah can do as she pleases with her money, or the money her predominantly white audience sends her for her pet projects, even if it includes keeping a promise to that smooth talking terrorist in a suit and tie, Nelson Mandela (who is on record, singing about killing white people) where she feeds the feminist beast that women are the future salvation of the world, so she takes predominantly black girls from poor neighborhoods, and showing her inexcusable ignorance about apartheid blames it for their level of poverty (it’s been over for years Oprah). Does she blame apartheid for those poor white girls she turned away from her school too? Sounds like Oprah is just exposing more of the double-standard blacks get away with and don’t like it when called on it. Shame.

I feel OPRAH is helping people all over the world one way or the other…So leave her alone!
God bless you OPRAH!!WAY TO GO!
WE LOVE YA FOR YOUR KIND HEART…AND YOU WILL BE REWARDED IN HEAVEN:)

Since when is it OK to tell people what they should be doing with THEIR money.  Especially hard working black people.  Man Listen!!!

It cracks me up how so many ppl in America have that independent mentality right? ... Then somebody lends a hand to a needy group and all of a sudden it’s “What about us?”

It don’t matter though. As long as she’s got Bushido Brown guarding her she’ll be ight.

Is Oprah’s school elitist? too hi-tech? too costly? I couldn’t care less. We’re blessed that Oprah helps people anywhere on this planet. Besides, countless paths to education & success exist in the U.S. yet countless obstacles (violent and otherwise) in South Africa STOP people before they take their first step.

I hope that one or more of Oprah’s students someday discovers a cure or two for diseases suffered throughout the world. This could happen. Would people reject the cure because it was borne of a supposedly “elitist” education? I think not. 

May Oprah and the South African students achieve whatever their incredible spirits want to achieve.  It could only enlighten and help the rest of us.

-R-

AFRICA IS NOT A COUNTRY PEOPLE. My gosh… you really do need an education in the USA. Or if you’re getting one, you need to cherish it and take advantage of the opportunities you have. African kids would give anything just to be able to go to school.

Well, I suppose it’s all been said by now. However, I think it noteworthy to mention that besides the obvious (Oprah can spend her dollars just like you and I do - how ever she damn well pleases), she appears to hit the American African American community below the belt with her decision (there vs. here). I support the African investment decision. But what about her comments on American black youth? Is this slander, or truth? In spite of the dismal economic and academic realities of these youth’s futures, do they have the ability to see beyond the austentatious materialism and morally bereft entertainment espoused in nearly every BET music video?

If I were looking for investor capital, I think I’d show some humility and grit before I complain. Ha! And her investment in Africa prevents fools from pulling the race card, huh!?!

Sad, just sad.

from the schools occurs as early as the 3rd or 4th grade..After which time, students go through the motions with no real desire or expectations to achieve academically..There is much in the literature pertaining to teacher expectation; how some teachers tend to to expect little from the students and get little, thus setting in motion a self-fulfilling prophecy..But today’s phenomenon has reversed and there is little in the literature pertaining to student’s expectations of the schools..A large number of Black students expect little or nothing from the schools to help them achieve their life’s goal..They have given up on the schools and the American Dream..Or better stated, they have a new American Dream—get rich or die..The vast, vast majority of the students will not get rich..“Between the Rhetoric and Reality” Lauriat PRESS;Simpkins&Simpkins;,2009:pp-23-24, Amazon.com..

Part1-
Oprah is not alone in her perspective on Black inner-city schools..In order to truly understand the dynamics responsible for the current state of the Black community, one must be cognizant of the root causes of the situation..It is important to understand that the Black family is in an advance state of deterioration, the Black family, the major support and coping mechanism for the Black community is falling apart..The relevant question is can it be put back together? Can the infrastructure of the Black family be rebuilt? Along with the Black family, education was considered to be the major vehicle for upward mobility..It is no longer considered by many to be a viable means of achieving their goals in life..This situation, Black students giving up on the schools as a means for achieving upward mobility in life-is well known to educators..Teachers throughout this country, in predominantly Black schools are faced with the task of educating Black culturally-different students, who tend to be disinterested, unmotivated and often hostile towards the school’s academic activities..Many of these students have mentally unplugged from the public school system..This mental disengagement—

When you know your own African American people have been oppressed for almost five hundred years and you know that a child by the age 5, has a mentality that last a lifetime, then how could anyone intelligently condemn the plight of poor African American.
Instead, perhaps she could have spent the money on understanding this and working together with African Americans to try and change and make things better. It is not going to improve by having successful African American belittling us. And no it is not just her money. African Americans have died and sacrificed for centuries to have us be in the position that Oprah is in. Charity begins at home and then spreads abroad when you know that your own house is in order.  No doubt that foreign blacks are more stable than the vast majority of African Americans, because they were not as damaged psychologically and spiritually as were African Americans, by slavery, racism and oppression and psychological rape. When you kill a person’s spirit resulting in them feeling helpless, hopeless and defeated, they often do give up and become extremely maladapted. How can some of that money be used to help African Americans hope again. After almost 500 years of betrayals, what do you expect. African Americans are mere mortals, not gods.

Millions of African Americans have been beat to the dust. And sometimes it hurts so much to see and know this that some of us go into denial and blame the victim. This is a common way of handling excrutiating pain when we don’t think we can do anything about the situation. Yes it does hurt, but we can still work together and help this to change.  Some of our African American brothers and sisters are out of control, because they are in so much pain and feel hopeless.