By Zoe Guo — Correspondent
(1867-1919)
Madam C. J. Walker, also known as Sarah Breedlove, was a young woman who traveled from Louisiana to Missouri as an orphan and single mother. She created her own business and earned her spot among the first female millionaires of her time. After first arriving in St. Louis, she found a job with Annie Turnbo Malone, a female business owner who made a living selling hair products, one of which was named “The Great Wonderful Hair Grower.” Eventually, Walker became inspired by Malone and decided to start a business of her own called Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company. By selling hair care products specifically designed for African American women, Walker’s profits skyrocketed. With her newfound fortune, she gave back to less fortunate communities, donating money to famous organizations that strived for equality, like the YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) and NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). Even after her death, she continued donating by leaving much of her wealth behind to numerous charities. “Don’t sit down and wait for opportunities to come. Get up and make them!” Walker told an audience at a 1917 hair culturalists convention.
Bibliography
Bundles, A’Leila, and The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Madam C.J. Walker | Biography, Company, & Facts.” Britannica, Smithsonian, 29 January 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Madam-C-J-Walker. Accessed 13 February 2024.
Michals, Debra. “Madam C.J. Walker.” National Women’s History Museum, 2015, https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/madam-cj-walker. Accessed 13 February 2024.
MYERS, ARDIE. “From Rags to Riches (May 2001).” Library of Congress, May 2001, https://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/0105/glorifying_womanhood.html. Accessed 13 February 2024.
National Museum of African American History and Culture. “Annie Malone and Madam C.J. Walker: Pioneers of the African American Beauty Industry.” National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian, https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/annie-malone-and-madam-cj-walker-pioneers-african-american-beauty-industry. Accessed 13 February 2024.
