Contribution: The worlds first black self-made millionaire who created beauty products for African American women.
Age: 51 (1867 - 1919)
Mini Bio:
Madam C.J. Walker’s original name was Sarah Breedlove. Her parents died when she was only 7, and she worked in the Louisiana cotton fields. Sarah moved to St. Louis to be near her brothers, who worked as barbers. In the 1890s, she began experimenting with homemade remedies for hair loss. She changed her name after she married Charles Joseph Walker. She thought “Madam Walker” would sound better on ads for her new product, which she named “Madam Walker’s Wonderful Hair Grower.” Sarah was very good at promotion and found great success in her business. She became one of the nation’s first woman millionaires.
- Before the Civil War, Sarah’s parents had been enslaved workers on the same Louisiana plantation where she was born.
- She worked washing clothes and cooking before her success as an entrepreneur.
- The Walker Company trained representatives who became well known throughout black communities all over the country.
- Being a “Walker agent” offered women a rare chance to make money.
- She provided employment for over 3,000 people
- She went on to set up schools.
Netflix made a 4 episode mini series about Madame Walker in 2020 starring Octavia Spencer.
Further Reading:
There is a Children's book and an Adult Biography on Amazon. You can also still purchase her products today. At Amazon, Walmart and Sephora.
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