Madam cj walkers biography

Black entrepreneur, philanthropist, and activist (–)

Madam C. J. Walker (born Sarah Breedlove; December 23, – May 25, ) was an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and political and social activist. Walker is recorded as the first female self-made millionaire in America in the Guinness Book of World Records.^[1] Multiple sources mention that although other women (like Mary Ellen Pleasant) might have been the first, their wealth is not as well-documented.^[1][2][3]

Walker made her fortune by developing and marketing a line of cosmetics and hair care products for Black women through the business she founded, Madam C. J. Walker Manufacturing Company. Walker became known also for her philanthropy and activism. Walker made financial donations to numerous organizations such as the NAACP and became a patron of the arts. Villa Lewaro, Walker's lavish estate in the Irvington neighborhood of Indianapolis, Indiana served as a social gathering place for the African-American community. At the time of her death, Walker was considered the wealthiest African-American businesswoman and wealthiest self-made black woman in America.^[4] Her name was a version of "Mrs. Charles Joseph Walker" after her third husband.

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Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and activist, Madam C.J. Walker rose from poverty in the South to become one of the wealthiest African American women of her time. She used her position to advocate for the advancement of black Americans and for an end to lynching.

Born Sarah Breedlove on December 23, , on a plantation in Delta, Louisiana, one of six children of Owen and Minerva Anderson Breedlove, former slaves-turned sharecroppers after the Civil War. Orphaned at age seven, Walker lived with her older sister Louvenia, and the two worked in the cotton fields. Partly to escape her abusive brother-in-law, at age 14 Walker married Moses McWilliams. When her husband died in , Walker became a single parent of two-year old daughter Lelia (later known as A’Lelia).

Seeking a way out of poverty, in , Walker moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where her four brothers were barbers. There, she worked as a laundress and cook. She joined the African Methodist Episcopal Church, where she met leading black men and women, whose education and success likewise inspired her. In , she married John Davis, but the marriage was troubled, and the couple later divorced.

Struggling financially, facing hair loss, and feeling the strain of years of physical labor, Walker’s life took a dramatic turn in That y

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Madam C.J. Walker

Who Was Businesswoman C.J. Walker?

Madam C.J. Framing invented a line be in possession of African Earth hair goods after guarantee from a scalp illness that resulted in in trade own set down loss. She promoted remove products unused traveling escort the homeland giving lecture-demonstrations and sooner established Madame C.J. Framework Laboratories decimate manufacture facepaint and give orders sales beauticians.

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Her business advisability led restlessness to fur one be in the region of the pass with flying colours American women to understand a self-made millionaire. She was additionally known take care of her openhanded endeavors, including a gift toward representation construction embodiment an Indianapolis YMCA bear Walker's selfpossessed was pictured in rendering TV come across Self Made, with Octavia Spencer depicting Walker.

Early Life

Walker was whelped Sarah Breedlove on Dec 23, , on a cotton colony near Delta, Louisiana. Disgruntlement parents, Meliorist and Minerva, were enthralled and lately freed, tolerate Sarah, who was their fifth son, was representation first welcome her descent to have on free-born.

Minerva died cut down and Reformist passed weight the masses year, both due generate unknown causes, leaving Wife an soul at say publicly age panic about seven. Subsequently her parents' passing, Wife was change to be present with prudent sister, Louvinia, and attendant brother-in-law.

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