Oprah Winfrey is triumphant in Gloria Naylor's portrait of ghetto life in the 1960s. Etta Mae: Jackee. Ciel: Lynn Whitfield. Kiswana: Robin Givens. Mrs. Browne: Cicely Tyson. Sam: Paul Winfield. Cora Lee: Phyllis Yvonne Stickney. Fannie: Mary Alice. Miss Sophie: Olivia Cole. Miss Eva: Barbara Montgomery. Ben: Moses Gunn. Directed by Donna Dietch.