In 1989, the talk show icon established the Oprah Winfrey Scholars program at Morehouse and has changed hundreds of students’ lives as a result. It’s also had an impact on Winfrey herself.

For most people, a glass of water and a rainy day are harmless, even comforting. For Earlie Fuse, they are a haunting reminder. When the forecast calls for storms in southern Illinois, he knows to ...