Jane Elliott: The Oprah Winfrey Show, 1992

Jane Elliott: The Oprah Winfrey Show, 1992

More than 20 years ago, “The Oprah Winfrey Show” conducted an experiment about racial prejudice that audiences will never forget. The year was 1992 — in the wake of the deadly Los Angeles riots that erupted after the acquittal of police officers on trial for the beating of Rodney King — and racial tensions in the country were running high. Yet, the “Oprah Show” audience members didn’t suspect a thing when they arrived at the studio and were immediately separated into two distinct groups.