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Madam C. J. Walker rose from humble beginnings to become America's first self-made female millionaire. As a beauty industry pioneer, she revolutionized hair care for African-American women, creating products that addressed their unique needs. Through her innovative business model, she empowered women by providing them with employment and economic independence. Beyond her successful business, Walker was also a passionate philanthropist and advocate for civil rights.
Click on to explore the inspiring life of Madam C. J. Walker.
Born Sarah Breedlove on December 23, 1867, in Delta, Louisiana, she was the daughter of formerly enslaved parents. Pictured here is an example of the kind of home she likely grew up in.
Walker was the first in her family to be born free after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.
Her mother passed away in 1872, likely from cholera, as an epidemic spread with river passengers up the Mississippi, reaching Tennessee and nearby areas in 1873. Her father remarried but died a year later.
At age 10, Sarah moved to Vicksburg, Mississippi, to live with her older sister and brother-in-law. She worked as a domestic servant and received only three months of formal education through Sunday school.
Walker was a devout Christian, and her faith had a significant influence on her philanthropy. She was an active member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Walker first married at 14 to Moses McWilliams in 1882. After his death in 1887, she remarried in 1894, leaving her second husband in 1903. In 1906, she married Charles Joseph Walker, becoming Madam C. J. Walker. They divorced in 1912.
Walker experienced severe dandruff, baldness, and scalp ailments due to harsh products, poor diet, illness, and limited hygiene during a time when most lacked indoor plumbing and electricity.
She developed her own homemade haircare products after struggling with hair loss due to a scalp condition. Her formula included petroleum jelly, sulfur, coconut oil, and other natural ingredients to promote hair growth. Pictured in black is her daughter, A'Lelia Walker.
Seeing how well her product worked, Walker turned her haircare products into a business in 1905 when she moved to Denver, Colorado.
In Denver, Walker began selling her products door-to-door and soon established a thriving company.
Her Walker System included a shampoo, pomade, and other products for healthy hair, with her first successful product being Madam Walker's Wonderful Hair Grower.
In 1906, Walker officially founded the Madam C. J. Walker Manufacturing Company, establishing a groundbreaking business in the beauty industry.
She further expanded her business by building a factory and training school in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Walker employed a direct-sales method, recruiting Walker Agents to sell her products across the nation.
Walker's innovative business model empowered African-American women by creating job opportunities.
Walker became the first female self-made millionaire in America through her innovative haircare products, business acumen, and dedication to empowering African-American women entrepreneurs.
Her daughter, A'Lelia Walker, played a crucial role in the family business, helping to manage and expand the company. A'Lelia also became a prominent patron of the Harlem Renaissance, supporting artists, writers, and musicians during this cultural movement in the '20s.
A philanthropist, Walker donated to several causes including education, civil rights, and community improvement.
She was a major donor to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which was founded in 1909.
She also supported the Tuskegee Institute, a historically black college led by Booker T. Washington.
Walker also contributed to anti-lynching campaigns and advocated for justice for African-Americans.
She maintained friendships with notable civil rights activists like W. E. B. Du Bois and Ida B. Wells.
Walker owned the lavish Villa Lewaro in Irvington, New York, a grand symbol of her success.
The estate also served as a social hub for the African-American community, hosting important gatherings. Pictured is Walker's great-great granddaughter holding images of Villa Lewaro.
Walker passed away in 1919 from kidney failure and complications related to hypertension. However, her legacy left an enduring impact on the beauty industry and African-American communities.
Her legacy endures through tributes such as scholarships, awards, and recognition in books, movies, and documentaries about her life and achievements.
Notably, her story was dramatized in the 2020 Netflix series 'Self Made,' starring Octavia Spencer.
Inspiring generations, she championed economic independence for African-American women through education and employment, while using her wealth and platform to fight racial injustice and uplift her community.
Often overlooked, Walker's contributions ultimately laid the foundation for the modern Black haircare and beauty industry.
Sources: (History) (National Women's History Museum) (History Hit)
See also: Defining moments in Black history
Madam C. J. Walker: America's first self-made female millionaire
From humble beginnings to beauty industry pioneer and millionaire
LIFESTYLE History
Madam C. J. Walker rose from humble beginnings to become America's first self-made female millionaire. As a beauty industry pioneer, she revolutionized hair care for African-American women, creating products that addressed their unique needs. Through her innovative business model, she empowered women by providing them with employment and economic independence. Beyond her successful business, Walker was also a passionate philanthropist and advocate for civil rights.
Click on to explore the inspiring life of Madam C. J. Walker.