Every woman has troubles with her hair. Once we find a good stylist, it’s like finding hidden treasure. The one who makes miracles and tames our tresses is somewhat irreplaceable. The ultimate hair cultivator of black history is Madam C.J. Walker. Her empire expanded from throughout the continental United States into Jamaica and Cuba. Her products were especially made for black women and her business was successful because of her marketing tactics and strategy. She took an everyday female plight and turned in into a lucrative market of hair care. Beyond being the great hair culturist, Madam is the first self-made female millionaire in the United States.
A'Lelia Bundles, Photo Credit: Walker Family Archives
Madam was born Sarah Breedlove in Delta, Louisiana on December 23, 1867. She was the fifth child of her parents Owen and Minerva Breedlove. Sarah was the only child of her parents born free. Young Sarah was orphaned at seven years old and worked the cotton fields of Delta and Vicksburg. She was married to Moses McWilliams at the age of 14 to escape the cruel treatment of her abusive brother-in-law Jesse Powell.
Madam was widowed at 20 years old with a two year old daughter Lelia to care for. She bent over washtubs making a meager $1.50 a day. In accounts of Madam’s life, it was her undying love for her daughter that made her retire her washtub in search of a more suitable profession. Madam wondered about the waning of her physical strength and how that would impact her ability to provide for Lelia.
A common form of psychological resilience within the Black community has always been religion. Especially in the times of Madam C.J. Walker, churches served as scenes of political activism, education, and sources of support for the community. The St. Louis AME church was home to Madam and aided in educating Lelia and inspiring Madam to reach beyond the grips of a washerwoman.
After suffering a server scalp condition in the 1890′s, Madam perfected her miraculous hair grower as it was given to her in a dream by God. Taking her products on the road, Madam demonstrated her products throughout the South and trained saleswoman on her door-to-door training technique.
In 1913, Walkers’ business expanded into the Caribbean and Latin America. Her Harlem home was designed and built by the black architect Vertner Tandy. The finished product was said to outshine anything on fifth avenue. Madam’s move to Harlem engaged her in the politics and activism of Harlem at the time. Walker was no stranger to philanthropy or politics as she hosted Booker T. Washington in her home as a sign of her support of political affairs.
The emblem that establishes Madam C.J. Walker stands in Irvington-on-the-Hudson. There is the location of her lavish 34 room estate called Villa Lewaro. The name comes from rearranging letters in her daughter Lelia’s name. Unfortunately, Villa Lewaro is not open to the public as it was bought by a private family. But, Madam C.J. Walker is buried next to Sears and J.C. Penny in Woodlawn Cemetary in the Bronx,NY.
The fascinating history of Madame C.J. Walker is a true rags to riches tale. She ascended from the lowest lows to the highest height. Madam left her mark on hair care, philanthropy, politics, and the hearts of those whom she continues to inspire. Please find more information about Madame C.J. Walker by reading “Her Dream of Dreams: The Rise and Triumph of Madam C.J. Walker” written by Beverly Lowry or visit: http://www.madamcjwalker.com
Other Posts by Eryn on Black History Month:
Black History’s Leading Literary Lady
The Black Panther Party For Self Defense
Intelligence of Interference? COINTELPRO and the Black Panther Party
“How they sold Marcus Garvey for rice”-LH
Yes you’re a woman…just a different kind
Vote to Discontinue Black History Month
Where’s my Forty Acres and a Mule
Too black to be white, too white to be black
Eryn is a Bostonian native who currently resides in the Metro New York area. She completed her B.A. in Psychology from St. John’s University where she also studied Mandarin, Chinese. Eryn has conducted psycho-social, medical, and environmental research. When she’s off the clock, Eryn spends time learning about world cultures, languages, and the best restaurants in town. She is currently working on her first novel A Beautiful Autymn. You can find more of Eryn’s work ranging from free-writes, poetry, and social analysis at http://autymn.wordpress.com
How nice to see your post about Madam C. J. Walker this morning! As her biographer and great-great-granddaughter, I’m always happy when others have a chance to learn about her. For more information, I hope your readers will visit our website at http://www.madamcjwalker.com and read my book, On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker. The first comprehensive biography of Madam Walker, it was a 2001 New York Times Notable Book and selected by the Association of Black Women Historians as the best book on black women’s history for 2001.
Just FYI: the photo of the woman holding the rose actually is Madam Walker’s daughter (and my namesake), A’Lelia Walker, about whom I currently am writing a new biography. The photo credit should be: Walker Family Archives
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Ms. Bundles,
I am sincerly honored that you have read my post. The life of Madam C.J. Walker continues to encourage me today. I am also glad to see that you were included in Chris Rock’s movie “Good Hair”. Your grandmother is truly a continued inspiration. I have included links to your website embedded in this article as your website has an incredible amount of information not found elsewhere. I have noted the words of Madam C.J. Walker in my article on “Tip a Hat to Haiti” found at http://www.conducivemag.com
I will definitely keep an eye out for you new biogrphy on A’Lelia Bundles who I understand was very active in the Harlem Renaissance arts scene. I’m trying to cover information on all great black figures for this years Black History Month. Please forward any information to me that you may think is helpful.
With great pleasure,
Eryn-Ashlei Bailey
erynashlei@yahoo.com
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Its been 143 years since Madam was born and 91 years since her death yet her legacy still stands strong. That is amazing! It is so important to keep everyone informed about the success stories of our beautiful black history not only this month, but every day. Her story is nothing short of inspiring and full of hope. What more can we ask for?
(Had no clue that she was buried in the Bronx. Makes me feel another degrese closer to her.)
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Johanna,
Madam’s legacy endures indeed. Thank you for reading and commenting. Please subscribe to my RSS feed to recieve other great and upfliting and at times painful stories of black history this month.
Cheers,
EAB
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[...] Feb. 2-http://cchronicle.com/2010/02/making-a-madam/ [...]
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[...] we learned from studying Madam C.J. Walker, religion has always been a common form of psychological resilience within the black community. And [...]
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[...] a daughter to the United States’ first self-made female millionaire Madam C. J. Walker, A’Lelia was exposed to first-class living but also the dedication required to attain it. Before [...]
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