Born Sarah Breedlove in Louisiana, the first in her family born free, she was orphaned at seven, married at 14 and widowed at 20. She worked as a washerwoman for little more than a dollar a day. Hair loss led her to create her own products, which she sold door to door, then trained thousands of women to sell as Walker Agents. By her death in 1919 she was one of America's first self-made female millionaires, and gave generously to Black schools and causes.
Madam C. J. Walker
Self-Made Millionaire
EXTRA-ORDINARY TRAIT
DETERMINATION
JFDI PILLAR
F — FOCUS
COUNTRY & REGION
USA (Americas)
LIFESPAN
1867 – 1919
GENDER
Woman
EDITION
No.004
✦ DEFINING MOMENT
On her feet at the 1912 National Negro Business League convention, demanding to be heard.
✦ ARCHIVAL DOSSIER
The Story
✦ VERIFIED QUOTE
“I am a woman who came from the cotton fields of the South... I promoted myself into the business of manufacturing hair goods and preparations.”
✦ DID YOU KNOW?
Her Walker Agents gave thousands of Black women their own income at a time when few jobs were open to them.
✦ YOUR TURN
Where could you give yourself a start instead of waiting for one?
COLLECTIBLE EDITIONS
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