Madam C.J. Walker

SUMMARY

Madam C.J. Walker (1867-1919) was born Sarah Breedlove. A resilient woman who found purpose in her need and made profit unimaginable. Uplifting women in a time they had no rights. She promoted equality in race and gender. I believe these characteristics and actions make her a radical change agent.

QUALIFICATIONS

Self made millionaire, philanthropist and Civil Rights Activist. Lived life from slavery to Mansions and still understood the need to give back to the community and the world promoting equality and continued to be living proof that anything is possible.

 

EXPERIENCE

Entrepreneur (1890’s-1919)

Madam C.J. Walker was suffering from balding in the 1890’s She developed a shampoo with a key ingredient sulfur that helped clean the scalp in the way African-Americans needed for their hair to grow properly. She decided to capitalize off of the product she made and began going door to door selling all around the United States. Her business developed into a business large enough to give her the title of the first female African-American millionaire

Civil Rights Activist (1910 -1919)

Madam C.J. Walker donated to NAACP, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and other Black Institutions regularly. Her involvement increased when she went to the white house accompanied by some other Black leaders to fight for lynching legislation laws to protect African-Americans. She also supported the NACW, the National Association for Colored Women.

EDUCATION

Life Experience

Ambition and  Hard work

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

At her death in 1919, she was said to be the wealthiest African-American woman in the United States and she was also the first female African-American millionaire.

While alive she mostly saw the harsh criticism of the lavish lifestyle she was living.

In 1992 She was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame.

Also in 1992, she was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame for Cosmetology and Direct Sales.

PUBLICATIONS

There are no actual publications by Madam C.J. Walker herself that are known. Though she did do public speeches at conventions and other Black institutions, they have not been transcribed and publicized.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Madam C.J. Walker has experienced a string of Accomplishments since the beginning of her career from her Ambition and hard work. She cured balding in the African-American woman community with the products she developed. Walker owned the largest inland manufacturer employing at one time over 3,000 people. She also created a school that trained women to do hair, to sell Walker products and to learn how to run their own business like a Salon. Her greatest accomplishment is the way she empowered women of color to understand there is a possibility outside of being a maid to profit from the work they do and break the vicious cycle of poverty they were in.

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

As a Civil Rights Activist most of the Activities she took part in outside of her business were voluntary. Besides doing speeches at conventions and Back institutions educating the public about  their rights, In collaboration with the NAACP, Madam C.J. Walker and other Black leaders took it upon their self after the East St. Louis Riot where three dozen African-Americans were hung, to go