A Walk Through Black History
(1867- 1919)  Madam C.J. Walker born Sarah Breedlove McWilliams
By: Karicean

Inventor
Entrepreneur
Philanthropist
Social Activist

An Innovator indeed, Madam C.J. Walker certainly paved the way for immense social changes that altered women's place in American Society forever.

Birthed out of a personal need, Ms Sarah suffered from a severe scalp aliment that caused her to lose some of her hair.  Embarrassed by her appearance, she experimented with a variety of home-made remedies as well as products by another African American entrepreneur, Annie Malone.  It was here that Sarah began her Journey. 

Changing her name to Madam C.J. Walker, she developed and sold her own hair care product called Madam Walkers Wonderful Hair Grower, a scalp conditioning and healing formula.  She promoted her product through an exhaustive marketing effort throughout the South and Southeast selling her formula door to door and giving demonstrations in black churches.  She would later go on to open a college in Pittsburgh where she would train her "Hair Culturists.”

As she grew in business, so did her heart.  Ms. Walker proved herself to be a dynamic philanthropist; birthing the philosophy of sowing into black churches and giving to charities such as the YMCA and the NAACP.  In addition, she became an early day advocate of women's economic independence, providing an income to women who would have otherwise been contained to jobs such as maids, servants, farm workers, and the like. 

Madam Walker- we salute and honor you for your revolutionary contribution to the hair care and cosmetic industry for African American women!