Oprah Gives Commencement Speech in Decatur: ‘Having a closet full of shoes won’t fulfill you’

By Sandra Rose  | 

Oprah Winfrey was invited to give the Commencement speech at the all-female Agnes Scott College outside Atlanta on Saturday.

She was invited to speak at the 2017 graduating class when she was in Atlanta filming her HBO movie, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks' last year.

Among the students accepting her degree was an emotional young lady who graduated from the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa.

The 63-year-old billionaire media mogul told the 2017 graduates to live a life of substance and to have empathy for others -- particularly those on the other side of the aisle who don't share your political leanings.

"It's possible. It can happen. I want you to work in your own way to change the world in respectful conversations with others," she said.

"I had to learn to feel with others, which is what it means to be compassionate."

Oprah, who received an honorary degree, presented the Vulcan Materials Teaching Award to Philip Ojo.

Oprah said the graduates should strive to be true to themselves and to avoid the pitfalls of chasing material possessions.

"I've made a living, I've made a life – I've made a fortune, really – all good – from being true to myself," she said.

"If I can leave you with any message today: the biggest reward is not financial benefits - though it's really good, you can get a lot of great shoes. Those of you who have a lot of shoes know having a closet full of shoes doesn't fill up your life. Living a life of substance can. Substance through your service."

Photos by Rick Diamond/Getty Images

  • Yoni7

    Hi Auntie Oprah!

  • Diva4lyfe

    that is sweet one of the girls from her school was graduating at that time. Oprah does great things and I hope a lot of folks understand what she was saying because that is true closet full of shoes does not fulfill u.

  • bemetoo

    Thats right Oprah a full closet and an empty heart

  • Minkie Babie

    She really said that with her white shoes and glasses on

  • Mia Said so

    AMEN!!! It dont equal happiness at all..

  • Mia Said so

    how many times have we sat in that room with that closet with those shoes and creied our hearts out calling on the Lord let me be the first to say ME.. and i have some really nice shoes.. i realized the difference and having empanthy for other is so much more rewarding...

  • Mia Said so

    WORD!!! AND SHE MEANT IT.

  • SunRiseBlossom

    Baby them shoes probably equivalent to the price of someone's house note!!! That sista has earned her words!!! Lol...

  • Mama Dee’s Wig Maker

    Well gon head Agnes Scott. I passed that school on my way to the beltline

  • datATLboi

    I'm really proud to see anyone graduate. Agnes isn't an easy school

  • Rayne

    Ooooohhh lawd. What did Oprah, Tyler and Lee do to Monique? She said suck something or thee other to them.

  • EMILY POST

    Oprah need views for her channel.... She must have a project out she needs negros to support...

  • Renee26

    Great message! Am I the only person who doesn't like the idea of honorary degrees? There are other ways to praise people's efforts besides giving them a degree that they didn't work to achieve...just my thoughts

  • Anunnaki

    If I had oprah money I would build houses not (BIG) and do my own financing, no White Man Credit System, I will build apartments for when my people fall on hard time they have a place to GO, i would build Schools for elem, and Mid school that will be the future leaders of the NEW black wall street,

  • klwbaby

    I think she feels they had something to do with people not wanting to hire her.

  • EMILY POST

    Does she really consider you her people or people who she needs to consume her products?????

  • CrunchyBlack1

    i try to preach that to most people i care about. don't chase materialistic things because you'll never be happy. that is a never ending race

  • MsPam

    I can't stand a know it all.

  • Mrs.Meenie

    Well coming from a lady who has a closet full of shoes, I am sure she would know.

  • Rayne

    Yep. I heard about this story some time ago. After precious the movie I think. Heard Monique had cut up real bad and wouldn't promote the movie .

  • Justlooknout

    what she said is words to live by, I said some of it in previous post.

    People just don't respect each other. We see it whilst driving, our neighborhoods, schools, church, friendships and social media. Folks rather drag you and be mean. Meanwhile folks out here killing themselves because they are being bullied.

    "Living a life of substance can. Substance through your service.”

    "work in your own way to change the world in respectful conversations with others,”

  • Anunnaki

    I don't know what she consider, But this is what I would do

  • Justlooknout

    her TV shows with predominate black cast?
    Her magazine (everybody reads her magazine)
    Giving African girls an education.

    What other products does she have?

  • CrunchyBlack1

    That's cuz satan done blinded folk with this never ending rat race. Anyone that isn't "infected" is a nuisance that needs to be targeted for erasure, and push out of the way.

    They say its survival of the fittest. I think its the "sick" getting a pass to continue poisoning their environments, with their demonic venom.

  • stav

    Luke 16:13 " No servant can be a slave to two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stick to the one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves to God and to Riches.”

  • speakinmymind

    Heh Sandra girl...heh! ??

  • CrunchyBlack1

    Truth!!! Now let the church say AMEN

  • cherrypie

    It was said that they blackballed her.

  • Minkie Babie

    Well I heard she sucked and fucked to get there so I guess they dont need shoes??

  • Wile E. Coli

    Says the idiot with a closet full of shoes.

  • Carrington

    Dear Op... I looooves you, gawd knows I do - but I would appreciate this comment much more after you've posted a picture of EACH of the shoe closets from every one of your multi-million dollar homes. I'm willing to be that that which does not fulfill "Shalonda" from YOUR closet is enough to pay off Shalonda's house and car.
    The people who say this are typically the ones who already have it, or those who don't and wish they did.

  • BRuhman_Vista

    "Thanks Oprah for that advise. So, did you get rid of all of those excess shoes in your closet? Asking for one of the other graduates". ??

  • https://sandrarose.com SandraRose

    Hey, girl. Hey! ?

  • Quitedeliteful

    Notice how people say that money and material things are not all they are cracked up to be after they make their millions???

  • Kimberly Vontrese

    I love me some Oprah but I bet she is a shady/messy queen behind closed doors. I live for pettiness. Oprah, come thru.

  • SunRiseBlossom

    Heard or Know?! At the end of the day... She is there!!! So she know something about success. I guess it comes to different people in different ways! Lol....

  • mzwhang90210

    Stop stealing my thoughts! LOL.

  • Mbailey

    BULLSHAT, Bullshat all day long! Congrats to all of the young ladies. Oprah loves displaying her closet---a place big enough to fit a family of four and opulent enough to have a bank door and alarms to make sure nobody gets in there.

  • Mbailey

    OPRAH is queen of seeking validation from material possessions. Her "holier-than-thou" attitude does not fool me for one minute. This woman be praising Jesus for all of her riches everyday; but want you to remain a cog in a wheel and "humble." Phugg you, Pope-rah.

  • Justlooknout

    I think she is preaching to the choir (herself) I think she has done/did thing and it's not publicized.

    Either way, good for her. She worked hard to get where she is, and she is not obligated to give it away.

    You damn is you do and dammed if you don't.

  • Justlooknout

    Baaaaawwwwwwwhhhhaaaa

  • Justlooknout

    Sandra came through. Like magic.

  • Rayne

    My goodness.

  • YellowSauce

    you cannot tell another person what will fulfill them ...some women get married and have babies ...she has done none of that
    soooooooooo .... I mean damn just tell the young ladies education will take you far AND you can love shoes also but you have a better chance of affording the expensive ones (like her) if you get an education ... this is why i don't care WHO it is BE YOUR OWN CHILD(REN'S) ROLE MODELS ...

  • Noirluv45

    Don't you think that because they've made their millions they can better speak on that subject? There are countless examples of people who are millionaires that are miserable drug addicts, alcoholics, and suicidal.

    I think when you live long enough, you realize all those material trappings don't guarantee happiness, and that's what I think she's speaking on.

  • TheWildChild

    Yes, Big "O" ... We know you have plenty of shoes in your closet. Thanks for wearing a pair to compliment our eyes. ? https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7aeb8175159f74a1ad9dd7045e73b03a3432e66c038444ec86bbc4abcc25aee5.png

  • BacktolurkingIgo

    She can send me some so I can see if it is so lol

  • Queen of EVERYTHING

    Oprah basically said "You're never too old to learn some shatt" because that message was definitely her inner self speaking to her outer self ?

  • Quitedeliteful

    You are absolutely right... Money does not replace love, happiness and all that is beautiful and peaceful in life. Most people know that money alone makes for a cold bedfellow... It's just funny that as she enjoys a life of opulence that 99% of the world can only dream of she tells the rest of us that it's really not that important. If it ain't all that it's crack up to be then she should trade places with me!!! LOLLOLLOL!!!!!

  • Lisa daniels

    Damn. She need to go the Africa to get them to fix them feet

  • Lisa daniels

    Money does not replace love, happiness...
    But damn shole keep the lights on.

  • Quitedeliteful

    And the rent/mortgage/maintenance paid!

  • Quitedeliteful

    LOLOLLOLLOLLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You got me CRYIN!!!!

  • Quitedeliteful

    O.M.G.!!!!!!!!! These CANNOT be Oprah's Feetz!!!

  • Quitedeliteful

    Monique got on her high horse and was too good to promote the movie that could have propelled her to A-List status. She performed as a fat, angry black woman and white folks call this an Oscar winning performance. She's starts to drink the koolaid and thinks she doesn't have to do what Meryl Streep, Denzel Washington and true A-List actors do-- which is promote their films. I truly thought Monique was smart enuf to play the game. Now look at her playing the Apollo and the chitlin' circuit...

  • Quitedeliteful

    She did it to herself....

  • dontgetblocked

    Sigh. This bish here. The town whore and former crack addict always has some fake ass advice for somebody. Don't be materialistic??? This bish bought a 52 million dollar mansion and upgraded it to a 100 million dollar residency that she calls, The Promised Land. What the hell is she talking about? She's the most materialistic heifer out here. Look at all these homes she owns. http://www.celebcasas.com/oprah-winfreys-house.htm

  • http://batman-news.com Roderick2011

    But you're still a homeless crack smoking street walker who uses the computer at the nearest library.

  • dontgetblocked

    You really don't have a life? Sad. You feel the need to defend a woman who doesn't know or want to know you. Pretty much how I feel about you. Poof! Be Gone.

  • dontgetblocked

    LMAO! She could easily have them surgically fixed. It would be painful...but at this point a necessity.

  • dontgetblocked

    She didn't want those coon shows but she had to hook up with Tyler to save her channel. She opened the school in South African thinking American blacks were from there. The dummy didn't know that most American blacks come from the West Africa.

  • dontgetblocked

    I hate them.

  • dontgetblocked

    Monique received a nominal salary for Precious since it was an independent film. Meryl Streep made 82 million dollars last year. Her promotional fees are negotiated in her salary. Monique was just being a good businesswoman.

  • Malcom Flex

    For all the black people dissing Oprah what have you done for our people? Me? I pay their RENT when my peeps are down and out! I may not approve of all of her works but Oprah puts her money where her mouth is. Educate BW you educate the race since in most cases BW are the sole custodial parent.

  • Malcom Flex

    Do you remember all of the good works she's done in the pas 25 years and how she helped BP get into therapy and actually read books????

  • Malcom Flex

    Because she's RIGHT. I can't elaborate BUT that money feels good at first then it's hollow and shallow can't buy you real love and nobody of worth or class cares about your expensive shoes and designer purse.

  • Mbailey

    HAIL! Hail! The Queen! She haft gifted us with books and knowledge. We may kiss her royal arse forever and ever! She may have run out on those Chicago children in terrible schools for wanting what The Queen has; but she gifted African children with her huge ego and reward of education for being servile.

  • Lisa daniels

    Tiny can go to Africa for blue eyes. She can get a witch doctor to straighten out the toes.

  • Lisa daniels

    Who you telling?

  • Faithz

    ROTFLMAO...

  • Faithz

    Exactly, and many could tell Oprah that her Billions want
    fulfill her, OR buy her a Ticket to the Promise Land.

  • Faithz

    You nailed a home run with that
    comment, Thanks.

  • Faithz

    Preach the word, Yes indeed.

  • Faithz

    Yes money do help you have a better way of life
    and happiness, but their are still many things
    money can't buy, and for Oprah it's better looking feet and toes.

  • Faithz

    Off subject do you think the PRESIDENT,,,, with all of his Billions, can buy himself some "Common Sense" Huh?

  • Faithz

    u nailed that one, thanks.

  • parisjok

    right, but she has so much money that she has to have enough tax shelters so uncle sam does not get 60% of her money just like folks that make 75,000 dollars or 100,000 dollars

  • parisjok

    OMG, such ugly feet. shami shame shame but who cares

  • AcutallyReally

    That's not why she opened that school in South Africa. She knows blacks in the US are mostly from West Africa. She opened that school there because she said that when she visited American schools and asked black kids what they wanted more than anything, the kids said sneakers; ipods, and other expensive items. Allegedly the South African kids said they wanted to learn (supposedly). Then she brought her ass out after those same S.A. kids' parents sued her about issues at the school and said that she stopped visiting the S.A. school because the kids would run up to her and say where are our gifts and wanted expensive ipods, sneakers, etc. Oprah is full of shit and has been for years. I respect her hustle and accomplishments but I gotta call it like it is.

  • tanya30060

    Who gives a rat's asslll

  • http://batman-news.com Roderick2011

    You spent a few minutes typing like the Petty Betty you are.

    Do you think Oprah gives a tinker's damn what you think about her?

    But go ahead with your miserable self-hating evny-filled life.

    Far be it for me to stop you.

  • A D N

    Great message Oprah! You are my hero and I aspire to do good things like help those who are less fortunate than myself. But hey, like Oprah, I ain't no fool. I will help those who want to help themselves by making good choices for their lives.

  • A D N

    It would be regulated by the government...

  • A D N

    I'm not against it.

  • A D N

    Exactly! Instead of focusing on the "shoe" comment Oprah made, it should be celebrated that females actually graduated from college today and had a black female billionaire to give the commencement address. Boy, we are easily distracted...

  • A D N

    If anyone is able to tell us that material possessions doesn't equate happiness is Oprah. Money relieves financial stress in some situations such as a roof over our heads, bills paid, etc...but it does little if our hearts are all about self-fulfilment. Oprah has earned every home and shoes purchased. I truly dislike when others look in my pocket (on my financial level) and expect me to pay for their items because I have more. I give, but why should my giving be to you who choose to irresponsibly spend money?

  • Quitedeliteful

    Them feetz look painful!!!

  • Quitedeliteful

    ??? It's gonna take some powerful juju to straighten out them toes!!

  • Justlooknout

    That tickled me...

    AND you can love shoes also but you have a better chance of affording the expensive ones (like her)

    :-)

  • Lisa daniels

    Chile, i wouldnt even feed them toes to the dogs.

  • Lisa daniels

    If can't he should at least buy him some people with some.

  • Quitedeliteful

    I don't know if she was being a good businesswoman because now she has no substantial career. She didn't get a lot of money since it is an independent film but that's how it is in the beginning. I think she should have just done those promotional tours, kept her mouth shut, and thought about the bigger picture because sooner or later the money was going to roll in. Now, she really has nothing substantial going on for herself. I feel for her though, it's got to be frustrating.

  • Quitedeliteful

    ??? you got me cryin over here!!!!

  • Lisa daniels

    They look worst them burnt sausages. Just terrible. They out here cloning Guicci Mane but can't fix Oprah toes. That's some bull?

  • Quitedeliteful

    Must be nice...

  • Quitedeliteful

    Them feet probably keep the bad spirits away...???

  • Quitedeliteful

    ???

  • Lisa daniels

    It didnt keep Mo' nique ass from popping off.

  • Quitedeliteful

    Mo'nique done fugged up!!!

  • dontgetblocked

    What the hell is a tinker's damn? How old are you? 85. This is not the 1940s.

  • Jussjess25

    I love Oprah! She practices what she preaches. She has a great heart

  • Jussjess25

    Wait.. so you dont expect a billioniare to spend millions of dollars on something that she wants?? While still giving back to others?

  • Jussjess25

    ?????? tinkers damn? Yea what is that..

  • Rayne

    You sholl right. I saw that arrogance too.

  • Look@m3

    Man I wish the Oprah Winfrey show still came on...I would love to see her interview l;so many people today. I just wonder if she would have interviewed anyone from Love and Hip Hop, then Id be like ok Oprah, retire now.
    Man she would interview Angelina Jolie (separation with ol boy), maybe Halle Berry, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé...its like I cant respect any other interviews now. Big shoes to fill!! BIG SHOES...and so far no one has compared to her interviews.

  • Lanegra??

    I need to hear the whole speech because I think she was trying to say is maintain balance. Don't let the materials blind you buuuutttt I like the other 99 percent would change places with her any day! and no shade Oprah was rocking red bottoms waaaaaayyy before any of those basketball wives or inst hoes.

  • Quitedeliteful

    Yep let's trade places!! She can maintain the balance; I'll maintain the bank account... LOLLOLLLOL!!!!!

  • Lanegra??

    RIGHT let me know if I need to move to Africa to get the assistance she is providing!

  • Quitedeliteful

    And Ima go with you!!! LOLLOLLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Lanegra??

    as long as we don't fly united or spirit we in there! LOL

  • Quitedeliteful

    LOLLOLLOL!!!!!

  • Minkie Babie

    I'm not mad shit i've sucked and fucked for free. but dont try to poverty pimp me.

  • SunRiseBlossom

    SCREAMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LMBO

  • Jheri Curl

    doubt she'd do L&HH becomes her demographic skewed towards old white women (Martha Stewart crowd)

  • Noirluv45

    Lol! I hear ya! We all know she wouldn't trade a dang thing! Lol!!!!

  • The Last Word

    I concur. The funny thing is that the responses to your post underscore the problem with black people generally. We are so invested in rooting for that thin sliver of black people who don't really give a damn, as if Oprah's wealth is worthy of worship

  • totellthetruth

    She she would have, remember she said she would NEVER have a rapper on......well Jayz was on????? She also said she didn't like him because he used the N word and had a huge impact but all that went out and he window

  • totellthetruth

    Wasn't she behind The Secret where you tell the universe all the materialistic crap you want and it delivers?????

  • Olga Summer

    Sigh! People...at the end of the day; 1 its HER money she earned 2 people can change 3 I could have sworn there was only 1 God who had judging rights??