Madam C.J. Walker, born Sarah Breedlove, was born in the same cotton plantation that her parents had been enslaved in. She worked at the plantation with her parents until she was seven, which is when her parents died. Afterwards, she moved in with her older sister. Later, at only 14 years of age, she married Moses McWilliams in order to escape her sister’s cruel husband. She gave birth to her only daughter, Lelia, at 17, and by the time she was 20, she was already a widow.

Searching for a way to support herself and her daughter, she moved to Missouri where she worked various jobs for 17 years, including being a saleswoman for Annie Turnbo’s hair products. During this time, she also met Charles J. Walker in the church she was attending, who eventually became not only her husband but the inspiration for her brand name.

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Sarah realized that her hair was falling out despite only being in her thirties. Inspired by Annie Turnbo’s hair products, she decided to attempt to create a mixture that would help with her hair falling out. She began selling this mixture, decided to change her name to Madam C.J. Walker, and her empire began, leading her to become the first Black woman millionaire in America.

Her products were made specifically for Black hair and were more successful than those created by white businesses due to her focus on the health of its users. She also had a more personal approach, given that she would sell her product door to door to her customers. Her business was one of the first that used this method. As it grew, her company employed over three thousand people, most of whom were part of her “beauty culturalists” fleet. She used her fame, wealth, and success to advocate for the end of many racial injustices, build multiple community centers, and fund several scholarships. Madam C.J. Walker died at the young age of 51, but her daughter continued to grow her company and carried on her legacy.

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Additional Reading

• https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/madame-c-j-walker
• https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/madam-cj-walker
• https://www.biography.com/business-leaders/madam-cj-walker
• https://www.britannica.com/biography/Madam-C-J-Walker