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Fun Fact
Her parents were both former slaves in history. She is known as Madam but her parents named her Sarah Breedlove. -
Early Life
She was born a Sarah Breedlove , on a cotton plantation near Delta, Louisiana. Her parents, Owen and Minerva, were recently freed slaves, and her, who was their fifth child, was the first in her family to be free-born. -
Obstacles
No one faced greater obstacles than Madam C.J. Walker. She was the daughter of former slaves, she was orphaned at the age of 7, married at 14, a mother at 17 and a widow at 20. Yet she was determined to build a better life for herself and her daughter. -
Birth date/ Birth place
Madam C. J. Walker was born on December 23, 1867 in Delta, LA. -
Accomplishments
Sarah Breedlove, known as Madam C. J. Walker, an African-American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and a political and social activist was the first black millionaire in America. -
Contribution Influence
Her door-to-door forays also included instructing female customers on hair and scalp treatments, and it was this personal approach that won many loyal customers. -
Contributions to the Black Community
She began creating her hair care products for one simple reason-she was losing her hair. In a time when fragrances and cologne were becoming popular, she developed three hair care products and began to sell them door to door. These products included the “Wonderful Hair Grower”, “Gloss” pressing oil for straightening hair, and “Vegetable Shampoo”. -
Changes in Society
She was a standard-bearer for black self-help, funding scholarships for women at Tuskegee Institute and donating large sums to the NAACP, the black YMCA, and dozens of black charities. -
Education & Jobs
Years later, Madam C.J Walker would say that she had attended night school in St. Louis as she was starting her business. As Madam Walker was becoming a successful businesswoman, she hired Alice Kelly, who had been at teacher at a school in Kentucky , to be her private tutor so that she could enhance her education. -
Death Date
She died of hypertension on May 25, 1919, at age 51, at Villa Lewaro.She died from high blood pressure.
