Oprah Winfrey’s opening remarks at a town hall with Stacey Abrams demonstrate once again her skill and talent for engaging a crowd and being a stirring storyteller. In emphasizing the sacrifices made by those before us, she reinforces the significance and seriousness of exercising our right to vote. And she does it in a way that’s personal, intimate and moving. She reminds us that “this land was made for you and me. … That’s not just a song, that’s the truth. … We are not powerless. Every single one of us has the same power at the polls.” She reminds us, too, that she’s an independent woman. No one paid her to attend, no one asked her to come. She votes her values and Stacey Abrams is the one who best represents those values.

[Note: to watch the entire town hall event, click on the “Replay” arrow in the lower left-hand corner of the video player after the opening remark excerpt ends]

 

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