Madam C. J. Walker - Celebrity Biographies – World

The life of Madame C.J. Walker is a unique ‘rags-to-riches’ story, which has been largely unsung. Born to formerly enslaved parents, this determined woman worked hard to overcome her hardships. Walker initially took up the job of a washerwoman to earn enough money to support herself and later became a salesperson. After learning the tricks of the trade, she ventured into entrepreneurship, recognizing the need to create products addressing hair care issues for African American women. Walker also motivated many other women to become entrepreneurs and trained them in the art of selling, which was a crucial aspect of any successful business. She organized conventions to encourage entrepreneurship among African American women across the nation. Madame C.J. Walker became one of the wealthiest self-made women in the United States, and the first female millionaire of her race. However, she also donated a significant portion of her fortune to charitable causes and organizations supporting the needy.

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Madam C.J. Walker, Sarah Breedlove

Died At Age: 51

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Charles Joseph Walker (m. 1906–1912), John Davis (m. 1894–1903), Moses McWilliams (m. 1882–1887)

father: Owen Breedlove

mother: Minerva Breedlove

siblings: Alexander, James, Louvenia, Owen Jr., Solomon

children: A’Lelia Walker

Born Country: United States

Humanitarian African American Slaves

Died on: May 25, 1919

place of death: Irvington, New York, United States

U.S. State: Louisiana

Founder/Co-Founder: Madame C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company

Childhood & Early Life

Walker was born in a village named Delta, located in the American state of Louisiana on the December 23, 1867. She was originally christened Sarah Breedlove by her parents. Sarah had five siblings, namely Solomon, Owen Jr., Alexander and James as well as a sister named Louvenia.

Her family members were slaves, who lived for many years in a plantation in the state of Louisiana. It is believed that her mother succumbed to Cholera during the year 1872, after which Sarah’s father got married for a second time. However, he too lost his life a few years later.

When she was hardly seven years old, Madame sought refuge at the residence of her sister named Louvenia, who was married to a man named Willie Powell.

Career

At the age of twenty, Sarah, along with her 2-year-old child, moved to the port city of St. Louis, a place where two of her siblings lived. She soon found the job of a washer woman in this city to make ends meet. Madame Walker hardly earned around a dollar as daily wages through this occupation.

She then went on to work with an entrepreneur named Annie Turnbo Malone and sold hair care products on behalf of the business woman.

Her knowledge on hair care products helped Sarah turn into a beautician, hairdresser and a retailer who earned profits through the sales of cosmetic creams. She soon started employing many female agents to create awareness of the culture of enhancing beauty.

Madame, along with her second husband Charles Joseph, set up an institution named ‘Lelia College’ in 1908, in a bid to groom the sales persons into ‘hair culturists’. She then relocated to the city of Indianapolis two years later and initiated various business establishments related to hair care, which included a beauty school and salon.

The city became a headquarters of Madame’s business operations, which soon expanded across cities such as Jamaica, Cuba, and Panama.

During the year 1917, this businesswoman organized an annual meet of ‘Madame Walker Beauty Culturists’, in the city of Philadelphia. This event was one of the first of its kind in the United States during its time.

The lady motivated her employees by offering gifts to sales persons who managed to earn more revenue by selling more of her products. She also felicitated those who contributed a significant amount towards charity.

She even initiated the ‘Walker Hair Culturists Union of America’ in 1917, which was the first ever convention at that time which was exclusively aimed at encouraging women to venture into commerce.

Major Works

Walker’s most significant contribution towards the hair woes plaguing the American masses was her Pomade, a waxy hair cream that promised to reduce hair fall problems and intended to maintain the shine in the hair. These products were packaged in cans with a picture of Madame’s on the outer surface.

Personal Life & Legacy

When Sarah was barely fourteen years old, she entered the wedlock with a man named Moses McWilliams in a bid to escape the torture she was subjected to, by her brother-in-law Willie Powell. The couple had a baby girl who was named A’Lelia.

However, her husband died when Sarah was hardly twenty years old. She then tied the knot with Charles Joseph Walker, who worked with an advertising firm back then. Sarah adopted the name Madame C.J Walker only after she married Charles.

1917, was an eventful year for Madame, even on the personal front, apart from her famous business initiatives. She hired an architect named Verson Woodson Tandy during this period to design a house in New York, which cost her approximately $250,000.

Madame succumbed to death on the May 25, 1919, due to increase in Hypertension. The business woman was fifty one years old and the wealthiest woman of African-American origin at the time of her death.

Prior to her death, Madame had donated $5000 towards an anti-lynching fund, to put an end to the inhuman form of punishment in the nation. Another $100,000 of her earnings was distributed amongst various charitable organizations.

The lavish residence of this African-American woman, known as the ‘Villa Lavero’ has now been declared as a national historic landmark.

As a mark of tribute to Madame’s achievements, numerous awards and felicitations have been named after the woman. One of them is the ‘Madam C.J Walker Business and Community Recognition Awards’.

Facts About Madam C. J. Walker

Walker was the first self-made female millionaire in America, breaking barriers as an African American woman in the early 20th century.

She revolutionized the hair care industry by creating specialized products for African American hair, empowering women to embrace their natural beauty.

Walker was a philanthropist who used her wealth to support various causes, including education and entrepreneurship opportunities for African Americans.

She was a trailblazer in entrepreneurship, demonstrating that hard work, determination, and innovation can lead to success, regardless of one’s background.

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