10 Hidden Facts About The First African American Female Millionaire: Madame C.J Walkers

10 Hidden Facts About The First African American Female Millionaire: Madame C.J Walkers

The concept of school is hands down a great idea. However, the subjects that are taught, that’s another story. With that in mind, allow me to introduce you to Madame C.J. Walker.

1. Creator Of The First Line Of Beauty Products For Women Of Color

Madame C.J. Walker created the first line of hair and beauty products geared towards Moorish women (black women).

2. More Than The First African American Female Millionaire

In the majority of articles online, and even in the hand full of books that have been written about Madame C.J. Walker, she is referred to as the “First African American Female” millionaire. The truth is she was 'THE FIRST FEMALE MILLIONAIRE'. There is no other record that has ever been found, that proves that any other female of that time, regardless of nationality was a self-made millionaire.

3. Her Name Wasn't Really Madam C.J Walker

Madame C.J. Walker was born Sarah Breed-love in 1867. Her parents were former slaves who chose to remain sharecroppers on the Burney Family plantation. Both of Sarah’s parents died before she was seven years old.

4. Madam Walker Married Young To Escape Abuse

After her parents died she was taken in by her older sister Louvenia. There are reports that state that Sarah was abused by her sister's husband. To get away from the wrath of her brother-in-law she married a man by the name of McWilliams when she was only 14.

5. Madam Walkers Did What She Had To For Her Daughter's Future

In 1885 Sarah had a daughter with her husband Mr. McWilliams. Two years later he was killed, and Sarah moved to St. Louis, Missouri. She worked as a domestic worker to insure that her daughter graduated from high school. Her daughter named Lelia went on to go to Knoxville College, a black private college in Tennessee.

6. Madam Walker Was Going Bald

Shortly after arriving in St. Louis Sarah started losing her hair. This was the norm among many black women of this era. Wanting to save her, Sarah started making her own concoctions in her bath tub. She would experiment with family and friends. Her homemade concoctions began to grow and popularity and Sarah started to realize the commercial value in it. She started going door-to-door in the local black community using herself as proof that her hair and beauty products worked.

7. Madam Walker Moved To Denver

Once Sarah had perfected her formula, she moved to Denver, Colorado once again with her older sister. Her sister's husband died, making the relationship between her and her sister a lot better. In 1905, Sarah had expanded her line of products to, Glossine Hair Oil, Temple Grower, and a Tetter Salve for psoriasis of the scalp. She also created a hot comb with teeth spaced far apart for thick hair which allowed black women to straighten, press, and style their hair more easily.

8. Madam Walker Gets Married Again!!

In 1906, Sarah married Charles Joseph Walker, a Denver newspaperman. His journalistic background proved to be extremely helpful in implementing advertising and promotional schemes for her products in various black publications, as well as through mail order procedures. Although this marriage only lasted a few years, it is where she got her professional name for herself and her company - Madame C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company.

9. Madam Walker Trusts Her Daughter With Her Business

Sarah left her daughter in charge of her company in Denver and took her show on the road. She traveled throughout the South and East, selling her products and teaching her hair-care method. In 1908 she established a branch office and a school called Lelia College in Pittsburgh to train black hair stylists and beauticians in the Walker System of hair care and beauty culture. Lelia also started managing the school and office side of the business and Sarah continued to hit the road introducing her products other black women.

10. Guess What Sarah Did With Her Money??

Once Sarah started making a lot of money, she did not forget where she came from. Through her business endeavors she came to know many famous black leaders. They supported her, and she supported their efforts. Among the famous black people that she supports was Booker T. Washington and his Tuskegee Institute. Sarah also built a girls school in West Africa and continued providing for it over the years. Sarah was able to further build her empire by making savvy real estate investment. The bottom line is this, Sarah A.K.A. Madame C.J. Walker revolutionized the personal habits and appearance of millions of human beings around the world.