Reflections on Oprah Winfrey’s return to the Smithsonian

On the morning of December 13, I had the honor of taking part in the unveiling of Oprah Winfrey’s portrait at the National Portrait Gallery. Oprah’s impact on the American cultural landscape cannot be overstated; she certainly belongs in those halls among giants who have shaped the nation.

Credit: Oprah Winfrey by Shawn Michael Warren, oil on linen, 2023. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. Acquired through the generosity of Tommie L. Pegues and Donald A. Capoccia; Taylor and Wemimo Abbey; Anonymous; Deon Jones and Cameron J. Ross; Lisa Opoku and Loki Muthu; Mack Wilbourn; Charles Young and Andrea Wishom Young.

I am most grateful, though, not for the grandeur of her celebrity but for the steadfastness of her friendship. From the very beginning of my time as director of the African American Museum, she was a guiding force. She took the time to speak with me about the importance of storytelling, about how to make sure to engage a variety of audiences, and especially about how important it was to ensure that any good rendition of history was as much about today and tomorrow as it is about yesterday.

These were lessons she put into practice herself, time and again. Oprah came of age during the civil rights movement and when the media landscape was changing, both of which shaped who she became. She used television as a tool to change the country, and she has a way of reaching and inspiring audiences that is simply unrivaled. The resounding impact of her talk show was celebrated in the galleries of the African American museum; all these years later, I was delighted to see her take her rightful place in history in another Smithsonian museum.

As a historian, I admire Oprah most for her commitment and capability to illustrate the stories of people who deserve to be remembered. That may have started with television, but it has since expanded to publishing, to philanthropy, and to film.

Her latest cinematic story, The Color Purple, is one such example. It was screened that same day at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in the theater named in her honor. Oprah is a producer on the movie, and her fingerprints are evident in the genius of the film. An all-star cast takes on a new rendition of a beloved story, and it is at once heartbreaking and joyful. It was fitting for the screening to be held at the museum that exists in part because of Oprah’s unwavering belief in its potential.

The Color Purple is about sisterhood: it speaks directly to the value and vitality of Black women. That ethos is the driving force of the story in all its forms, be it Alice Walker’s original novel; the first movie adaptation, in which Oprah plays Sofia; the Broadway musical; or the latest film, which comes out on Christmas Day. And yet each time the story is made anew, speaking to the power of telling and retelling a story in different ways to different audiences. This movie will introduce a new generation to the stories of Celie, Shug, Nettie, and Sofia. It shows us what it is to be family, by blood or otherwise. And it is a work that is at once historical and timeless, a delicate balance that Oprah has always known just how to strike.

It felt fitting to enshrine her legacy at the National Portrait Gallery, where her likeness wears a royal purple gown in perpetuity. And for me, it was a full-circle moment to showcase her latest production—an American story that brings history to life—in a museum that seeks to do the same, because she always knew it would.

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