Madam C.J. Walker

Who Was Madam C.J. Walker?

Madam C.J. Walker, a pioneering entrepreneur, revolutionized African American hair care by creating a line of products inspired by her own battle with a scalp condition that led to hair loss. To promote her innovative products, she embarked on a nationwide tour, delivering engaging lecture-demonstrations. Her dedication led to the founding of Madam C.J. Walker Laboratories, where she not only manufactured cosmetics but also trained a new generation of sales beauticians.

Walker’s exceptional business acumen earned her a place as one of the first American women to become a self-made millionaire. Beyond her entrepreneurial success, she was a committed philanthropist, making significant contributions such as funding the construction of an Indianapolis YMCA in 1913. Her remarkable life and achievements were brought to the screen in the 2020 TV series “Self Made,” with Octavia Spencer portraying Walker.

Early Life

Sarah Breedlove, who would later become known as Madam C.J. Walker, was born on December 23, 1867, on a cotton plantation near Delta, Louisiana. Her parents, Owen and Minerva Breedlove, had recently gained their freedom from slavery. Sarah, their fifth child, was the first in her family to be born free.

Tragedy struck when Minerva died in 1874, followed by Owen’s death the next year, leaving seven-year-old Sarah orphaned. After their deaths, Sarah went to live with her sister Louvinia and brother-in-law.

In 1877, the family relocated to Vicksburg, Mississippi. Here, Sarah began working in the cotton fields and likely took on household chores, though no official records of her employment from that time exist.

Daughter A’Lelia Walker

At the age of 14, seeking to escape the harsh conditions of her work and the mistreatment from her brother-in-law, Sarah Breedlove married Moses McWilliams. On June 6, 1885, Sarah gave birth to a daughter, A’Lelia.

Following Moses’s death two years later, Sarah and A’Lelia relocated to St. Louis, where Sarah’s brothers had established themselves as barbers. In St. Louis, Sarah worked as a washerwoman, earning $1.50 a day, which was sufficient to enroll A’Lelia in the city’s public schools.

During this period, Sarah also attended public night school whenever possible. It was in St. Louis that she met Charles J. Walker, an advertising professional who would later play a crucial role in promoting her hair care business.

Hair Care

In the 1890s, Sarah experienced a scalp condition that led to significant hair loss. Determined to find a solution, she began experimenting with various home remedies and commercial hair care products.

In 1905, Sarah was hired as a commission agent by Annie Turnbo Malone, a successful Black entrepreneur in the hair care industry. This opportunity took her to Denver, Colorado, where she further immersed herself in the field.

Madam C.J. Walker Company

During her time in Denver, Sarah’s husband, Charles J. Walker, played a crucial role in developing advertisements for her hair care treatment specifically designed for African Americans. He also suggested the name “Madam C.J. Walker,” which she adopted and became widely known by.

In 1907, Madam C.J. Walker and her husband embarked on a tour through the South and Southeast. They promoted her products and conducted lecture demonstrations of her “Walker Method,” which included her proprietary formula for pomade, techniques for brushing, and the use of heated combs.

Walker Agents

As her business thrived, Madam C.J. Walker opened a factory and beauty school in Pittsburgh in 1908. By 1910, she had moved her operations to Indianapolis, where the Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company had achieved remarkable success, with profits equivalent to several million dollars today.

In Indianapolis, the company expanded its role beyond manufacturing cosmetics to include training sales beauticians. These “Walker Agents” gained prominence within Black communities across the United States. They championed Walker’s philosophy of “cleanliness and loveliness,” advocating it as a means to elevate the status of African Americans.

A tireless innovator, Walker organized clubs and conventions for her representatives, celebrating not only top sales performers but also those contributing to philanthropic and educational advancements within the African American community.

Harlem Years

In 1913, after divorcing Charles, Madam C.J. Walker embarked on a journey through Latin America and the Caribbean to promote her business and recruit individuals to teach her hair care techniques. During her travels, her daughter A’Lelia managed the purchase of property in Harlem, New York, recognizing its potential as a key location for future business expansion.

By 1916, Walker had settled into her new townhouse in Harlem, where she continued to oversee her business, entrusting the day-to-day operations of her Indianapolis factory to its forelady.

Walker quickly became a prominent figure in the Harlem Renaissance, engaging deeply with the social and political movements of the era. She established several philanthropic initiatives, including educational scholarships and donations to organizations such as the NAACP and the National Conference on Lynching, as well as support for elderly homes. Notably, she made the largest donation by an African American towards the construction of an Indianapolis YMCA in 1913.

House

In 1918, Madam C.J. Walker commissioned the construction of an Italianate mansion named Villa Lewaro in Irvington-on-Hudson, approximately 20 miles north of New York City in the picturesque Hudson Valley. The mansion was designed by Vertner Tandy, a distinguished African American architect.

Villa Lewaro became a prominent social hub for many notable figures of the Harlem Renaissance and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976.

Death

Madam C.J. Walker passed away from hypertension on May 25, 1919, at the age of 51, at her home, Villa Lewaro.

In 1981, the Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company ceased operations, but the legacy of her brand endures. Today, a line of cosmetics and hair-care products under the name Madam C.J. Walker Beauty Culture is available at Sephora retailers.

Walker bequeathed one-third of her estate to her daughter, who also made significant contributions to the Harlem Renaissance. The remainder of her estate was allocated to various charities. Walker’s funeral was held at Villa Lewaro, and she was laid to rest at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York.

Legacy and TV Show

In 1927, the Walker Building, an arts center that Madam C.J. Walker had initiated before her death, was completed and opened in Indianapolis. This significant African American cultural center has since been recognized as a National Historic Landmark. In 1998, the United States Postal Service honored Walker’s legacy by issuing a stamp featuring her as part of its “Black Heritage” series.

Walker’s remarkable life was portrayed in the 2020 TV series Self Made, with Octavia Spencer delivering a compelling performance as Walker.