By Jawn Murray, BlackVoices.com
Not that I ever believed the crazy tabloid fodder that Oprah Winfrey was dating Tyler Perry – I'm sure by now you saw that ridiculous 'National Enquirer' cover story as well – but the talk show titan put those rumors to rest when she showed up with her longtime beau Stedman Graham at a community festival in a rural New Jersey town this past weekend.
The "Queen of Television" appeared with her boyfriend, businessman Graham, who is a native of
The two were there for Whitesboro's community festival.
Oprah Winfrey Pictures
Talk show host Oprah Winfrey (C) joins more than 175 US Olympic medalists, including swimmer Michael Phelps (front row 3rd L), for the 23rd season premiere episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" at Millennium Park in Chicago September 3, 2008. REUTERS/George Burns/Harpo Productions, Inc./Handout (UNITED STATES). NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
Reuters
Talk show host Oprah Winfrey joins more than 175 US Olympic medalists for the 23rd season premiere episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" at Millennium Park in Chicago September 3, 2008. REUTERS/George Burns/Harpo Productions, Inc./Handout (UNITED STATES). NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
Reuters
In this photo released by Harpo Productions is Oprah Winfrey, center front, with the U.S. Olympic athletes that were invited to join her Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008, for the taping of the season premiere of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in Chicago's Millennium Park. The show, which will air on Monday, Sept. 8, was at once a welcome home for the athletes and a pep rally for the United States and Chicago, which hopes to host the 2016 Games. (AP Photo/Harpo Production, George Burns) **NO SALES**
AP
** ADDS BROADCAST DATE OF SHOW ** Olympic gymnastics medalists Nastia Liukin, right, Samantha Peszek, center, and Alicia Sacramone pose for picture as they arrive for the taping of the 23rd season premiere of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008, at Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago's Mellennium Park. The show is scheduled to be broadcast on Monday, Sept. 8. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
AP
** ADDS BROADCAST DATE OF SHOW ** Members of the silver medal Olympic softball team pose for a picture as they arrive for the taping of the 23rd season premiere of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008, at Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago's Mellennium Park. The show is scheduled to be broadcast on Monday, Sept. 8. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
AP
** ADDS BROADCAST DATE OF SHOW ** U.S. Olympic athletes line the stage with Oprah Winfrey for the taping of the season premiere of her talk show Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008, in Chicago's Millennium Park. The show is scheduled to be broadcast on Monday, Sept. 8. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
AP
Olympic bronze medal heavyweight boxer Deontay Wilder greets fans as he arrives for the taping of the 23rd season premiere of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008, at Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago's Mellennium Park. The talk show host invited 150 U.S. Olympic athletes to join her. The athletes were introduced under a shower of red, white and blue confetti. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
AP
** ADDS BROADCAST DATE OF SHOW ** Winfrey Show" Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008, at Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago's Mellennium Park. Winfrey invited 150 U.S. Olympic athletes to join her to launch her 23rd season. The show is scheduled to be broadcast on Monday, Sept. 8. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
AP
** ADDS BROADCAST DATE OF SHOW ** Oprah Winfrey and Olympic women's basketball gold medalist Lisa Leslie, left, and men's basketball gold medalist Carlos Boozer, back right, greet fans as they arrive for the taping of the season premiere of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008, in Chicago's Millennium Park. Winfrey invited 150 U.S. Olympic athletes to join her to launch her 23rd season. The show is scheduled to be broadcast on Monday, Sept. 8. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
AP
** ADDS BROADCAST DATE OF SHOW ** Oprah Winfrey, center, hugs Olympic gold medalist Nastia Liukin as gold medalist Michael Phelps, behind Liukin, applauds during the taping of the season premiere of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008, in Chicago's Millennium Park. Winfrey invited 150 U.S. Olympic athletes to join her to launch her 23rd season. The show is scheduled to be broadcast on Monday, Sept. 8. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
AP
At least 500 people from across the region came to hear Winfrey speak at a reunion of
Whitesboro is a tiny, rural community founded in 1901 as a settlement for African Americans leaving the South.
Graham has been actively involved in many of the group's initiatives, including renovating public facilities and sports fields.
According to the 'Cherry Hill Courier Post,' Winfrey commanded the podium with stories about the importance of voting, the necessity of education and the all-knowing spirit of Jesus. (I wonder what all of these pastors who constantly preach against Winfrey will have to say about her acknowledging Jesus?)
The crowd also sang a unison verse of the gospel hymn, 'I Surrender All.'
Winfrey also pledged $1 million to local educational scholarships in the coming years. She gave her first installment of $220,000 before she left.
"We grew up when getting straight A's didn't mean you were trying to 
act white, but you were trying to act right," Winfrey said to the cheering crowd. "There is no greater chance for success than education."
Before she made the announcement that brought the locals to tears, Winfrey complained at how society was allowing mediocrity to prevail, failing children and watching too many students fall through the cracks.
Without education, she and Graham would not be where they are, she emphasized.
She implored people to find the possible in the impossible, and strive for your dreams.
The multiple-award winning TV host, who had just flown back from the Democratic National Convention in
Winfrey emphasized that she is rarely political, but she has been compelled to get involved.
"But if you're not willing to stand up for what you believe in, then you can sit down and shut up," said Winfrey, who last gave a speech in the
Community leaders declared the day in honor of Graham, and everyone thanked his mother, Mary Graham.
"It was a nice day. I liked it all," Mary Graham said after the presentations.
Comments: (205)
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By: Ali on 9/03/2008 12:20PM
Stedman's no dummy. He ain't goin nowhere. Oprah can have busted up feet, jacked up weave and look a hot mess w/out makeup, and that dude still stayin put.
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By: MissWanda on 9/03/2008 6:43PM
OPRAH ALWAYS DOING FOR OTHERS... ALI YOU PROBABLY DON'T LOOK THAT GOOD ANYWAY... THE PROBLEM IS MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT USE TO HAVING AND BEING IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE SO THEY WILL FIND THE MOST EVIL STUPID THING THAT COMES TO MIND... OPRAH MAYBE NOT BE THE PRETTIEST IN THE BUNCH BUT SHE SURELY IS THE SMARTEST
GO OPRAH
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By: rhonda on 9/04/2008 12:15AM
I hope Oprah continues to support Obama.
A Black woman called the radio station and said she lives in Alaska and that Sarah refused to meet with the Black Caucus there. She said she had no room on her calendar to meet with "Special Interest Groups." So that's what Black people can expect from her if she gets in the White House.
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By: Beth Jackson on 9/04/2008 1:48AM
I wish Oprah would either marry Stedman or drop him. She is living in sin and sending the wrong message to young people who look up to her. She has left the truth of the bible for the lie of the humanist. Oprah what does it profit a woman to gain the whole world and loose your soul.
I did hear and hope it is true, that she has seen the light and has stopped surporting Obama. Obama fans need to read "Because they hate" by Brigitte Gabriel.
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By: Beth Jackson on 9/04/2008 1:57AM
Oprah should breakup with Stedman and find a man who really loves her and she loves enough to marry. She is setting a very bad example for young people by living in sin. Oprah needs to return to her christian beliefs and values. She has become a humanist. Oprah, what does it profit you if you gain the world and loose your soul.
I heard Oprah has come to her senses and stopped supporting Obama. Obama supporters need to read "Because They Hate" by Brigitte Gabriel . Obama has strong Muslim ties and Muslims hate blacks. They use them for their political help then kill them. Read it for yourself.
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By: tt on 9/04/2008 6:18AM
Oprah is living in sin ,,she is not an example to the world, I do not even watch her show anymore she is so phony, swaying with every new move , she needs to get a grip on GOD and quit talking a higher power, get married and be an example to young and single women and get a life, stedman is there for the money, yeah he supports the school etc...but I can bet your buttons most of what he is doing is with Oprahs money shame on you Oprah buying a man all your life....get a life....you need JESUS!
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By: LINDA on 9/04/2008 8:01AM
Wow it's amazing how many people know what Oprah needs to do. Where are you in your life? What have you done for your community? Or what have you done for one person. God does the judging and he is going to judge Oprah and you and every human being. According to scripture "it is appointed unto to man once to die and than the judgement" so while we have life in our bodies we should make sure our house is in order because noone knows where death is. God is of no repecter of person.
Have you notice how death has visited a lot of high profile people lately. Come on Chrisitian sisters and brothers pray for
Oprah and others whose lives are displayed before us everyday.
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By: S. Lyle on 9/04/2008 11:19AM
Sometimes I think we as people-christians inparticulary- look, discuss, and cast judgement on the sin of other people that we can "see". The big picture is that a sin is a sin in the sight of God. So instead of casting judgement on Oprah and Steadman get that plank out of your own eye first. If we spend more time working on ourselves, we would have less time to tell people what they should or should not do.
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By: Pam Fairley on 9/04/2008 10:11AM
Oprah Winfrey is one of the most profficient Black
Women in America, She has alway been a women of value;
who cared for the live of many people, not only Black
but many, many other. I consider her to be a ambassador for this country. She has contribute greatly to the education, moral & christian value for many. If you are looking to find fault in one, you will fine it. But if you looking for truth, it's alway there, you don't have to look any farther.
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By: Kevin B on 9/04/2008 10:14AM
Oprah than you for being you and doing what you do to help others. I get so tired f folk talkingabout what others do in their lives and being an example for the younger generation. The problem withthat people are not taking responsibilty for their own young folk. Our kids should not have to look at TV or Sport figures to have role models, we the parents are to be our childrens role models, have your kids look to someone they can see and feel, an aunt or uncle, grandparents, teachers, those are the folks kids should be looking up to as role models someone theyc an talk to and ask then what gives them their drive to succeed and do well, if we take the time to know what our children do in school, at home int hebeighborhood then we can show them ourselves that we are their role models. Oprah do your thing and keep doing what you do, your life is your life. and for those of you who like to quote the Bible to make your comments better here is a good for you. The word of God says "we stand in judgement for ourselves and that God will judge us accordingly" so before you go passing judgement on someone else, make sure that your life is in order and that you are doing what is pleasing to God.
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