The first female American millionaire left a legacy

Famous for being the first American woman to become a millionaire, Madam C.J. Walker started her own African-American hair care company and quickly became a leading woman in the industry. Her dedication to her work and to the African -American community during the Harlem Renaissance continues to shine inspiration on young

She was born Sarah Breedlove on December 23, 1867 to her recently freed parents in Louisiana. Sarah became an orphan at the age of seven and moved in with her sister and brother-in-law in Mississippi in 1877. At 14-years old she married Moses McWilliams to escape her cruel work environment and mistreating brother in law (Madam C.J. Walker). On June 6, 1885, she delivered her daughter A’Lelia. Two years later, after the passing of McWilliams, Sarah and A’Lelia moved to St. Louis with her brothers who were working as barbers.

Her life in St. Louis with her brothers would be her introduction to the world of haircare as she worked as a washerwoman. During this time, she attended night school and met her next husband, Charles J. Walker. Her discovery of a scalp disorder she suffered marked the beginning of her experimental hair remedies. She was discovered by a successful haircare entrepreneur and moved to Denver. Her husband created advertisements for her haircare targeted towards African-American women. In these advertisements, Walker introduced her more recognizable name “Madam C.J. Walker”. She traveled the south with her husband to promote her products and how to use them by calling it the “Walker Method.”

The success of her products allowed Walker to open a factory and beauty school in Pittsburgh. By the time she moved operations to Indianapolis, profits were reaching a modern day comparison of millions of dollars (Madam C.J. Walker). The company also trained what they called “Walker Agents” to promote Walker’s idea of “cleanliness and loveliness.” Conventions were created to display the company and the support made by African-American community.

Walker then started to travel to Latin America and the Caribbean to promote her business. Her daughter A’Lelia stayed in Harlem to purchase property for a future project. After a year of traveling, Walker moved to Harlem where she was captivated by the Harlem Renaissance. She even had a mansion built, the Villa Lewaro, as a gathering place for Renaissance influencers. It was at this property that Walker passed away on May 25, 1919.

Madam C.J. Walker was a role model for many as a strong African-American entrepreneur. She left behind the Walker Building, an art center in Indianapolis which is now a National Historic Landmark. Although Madam C.J. Walker stopped operations in 1981, a new line of haircare is sold at Sephora holding the name of “Madam C.J. Walker Beauty Culture” (Madam C.J. Walker). Her life was recently portrayed in the show Self Made by actress Octavia Spencer. She continues to be an inspiration to entrepreneurs and for her work in the African-American community.