Oprah Winfrey is using her platform to speak out against racism in America.
According to Variety, Winfrey is set to host a two-night special on OWN titled “OWN Spotlight: Where Do We Go From Here?” on June 9 and June 10 at 9 p.m. ET. The project’s announcement came after the death of George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis on May 25 while in police custody.
“I’ve been having private conversations with friends and thought leaders about what’s next and where we go from here,” Winfrey said in a statement to Variety. “I thought it would be both of interest and service to bring their ideas, concerns and comments into a national spotlight.”
During the two-night special, Winfrey will be joined by a myriad of powerful voices, including Stacey Abrams, journalist Charles M. Blow, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, filmmaker Ava DuVernay, professor and author Jennifer Eberhardt, journalist and founder of the “1619 Project” Nikole Hannah-Jones and more.
Last week, Winfrey shared a heartfelt post dedicated to Breonna Taylor on what would’ve been her 27th birthday. Back in March, Taylor was shot inside her Louisville home by police.
“Today would’ve been Breonna Taylor’s 27th birthday. But she’s not here to celebrate, because shortly after midnight on March 13, Louisville police entered her apartment unannounced—and, after a brief confrontation with her boyfriend, shot her eight times. The officers have not been fired or charged,” she wrote.
She continued, “Breonna was an award-winning EMT. Her mom says her daughter had plans to become a nurse, buy a house, and start a family. Now, she doesn’t even get to celebrate her birthday. In our fight to remind the world that Black Lives Matter, we need to remember those Black lives also include Black women. So on what would’ve been her 27th birthday today, let’s speak her name: Breonna Taylor.”