OWN Spotlight - Season 1

Oprah invites Emmy-winning actress and political activist Kerry Washington to her home to talk about her new memoir, Thicker Than Water.  In this revealing conversation, the notably private Washington opens up about enduring difficult childhood trauma, her struggles with her own body image and mental health and the revelation of a shocking family secret that changed her life.  She candidly shares her battles with a painful eating disorder and suicidal thoughts, details the night that brought her to her knees, and explains how acting saved her life in many ways, including the iconic role of Olivia Pope.

In this intimate special, Oprah welcomes filmmaker, diplomat and philanthropist Nicole Avant. Oprah and Avant reminisce about her childhood, dotted with visits from luminaries like Sidney Poitier, Muhammed Ali, Whitney Houston and Bill Clinton. She also takes Oprah through the terrifying moment when she learned that her beloved mother had been shot in her own home, resulting in a shocking death that rocked both her family and Hollywood. Avant shares insights from her new memoir, Think You'll Be Happy: Moving Through Grief with Grit, Grace, and Gratitude, including how she has learned to retain her faith and remain positive, hopeful and live life to its fullest in the wake of devastating grief. 

An especially powerful presentation, Oprah sits down with Tony and two-time Emmy winner Courtney B. Vance and Dr. Robin Smith, a renowned psychologist, for a crucial discussion that asks the question, "How do we begin to uplift and empower Black men in a world that refuses to see their humanity?"  As co-authors of the book The Invisible Ache: Black Men Identifying Their Pain and Reclaiming their Power, Vance and Smith put a spotlight on the critical issue of mental health among Black men in America. The trio then speak live with a group of Black men from around the country, who share their own personal stories of struggle and survival.