Just shy of her 64th birthday, Oprah Winfrey became the first Black woman to receive the prestigious Cecil B. Demille award for her groundbreaking achievements in media and film.

As I watched the broadcast with my adult daughter and my husband of 17 years we were left speechless, inspired and motivated. Oprah has been an inspiration not only to me since her talk show went national in 1986, but to millions of people around the globe. In this speech, Oprah gracefully speaks to us of racism, politics, history, and she represented for the most underrepresented women in our culture. Take a listen and share in the comments below how Oprah has inspired you through her 40-year career.