This boy came from a poor family, but he had big dreams that he believed in.

He pursued his dreams relentlessly and achieved them despite several obstacles he faced.

The boy is now a famous comedian, a celebrated TV host, and an accomplished author and businessman.

This African-American boy knew from a very young age that he wanted to be on TV. His philosophy in life was to dream big and believe that one day, he would succeed. So, the boy held on to his dreams of being on TV as much as he was a stutterer.

The boy was born on January 17, 1957, in Welch, West Virginia, to his dad, Jesse Harvey, a coal miner, and mom, Eloise Vera Harvey, a Sunday school teacher. The boy grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and the place still remains special in his heart.

The road to success wasn’t an easy one for the boy, but he relentlessly pursued his dreams. The boy wrote on a piece of paper when he was ten that he would be on TV one day. He didn’t get on TV until he was 38. Now, he is a New York Times best-selling author, Emmy Award-winning entertainer, businessman, philanthropist, motivational speaker, and radio personality.

The boy has thrived against all odds. He was born to parents who didn’t have much to their name, but that didn’t stop him from dreaming big. His dad, a father to five kids, made $5 a day as a coal miner. The boy also worked in his uncle and grandfather’s farm in West Virginia until he was 16. He narrated:

“I grew up very poor, I flunked out of school, I’ve been homeless. I lived in a car for three years. I got the first car in my name, the first car ever put in my name was a used car, and I got it at 38.”

The boy’s family was so poor that he didn’t see a proper toilet with a flush until he was 5. Still, the boy made it big. He promised God that if succeeded, he would thank him and praise his name. Now, as a global figure, the boy honors his promise to God by sharing his gratitude with his audience at the end of every show.

One time, when he was homeless, he hid in a hotel washroom to wash up, and it just dawned on him that he was at his lowest point ever.
This boy learned to embrace God from his mother, who also taught him the importance of dressing up and maintaining one’s image. The boy’s siblings said he behaves just like his dad and that his mom was a sweet angel who was non-judgmental.