MADAM C.J. WALKER

"I am not satisfied in making money for myself. I endeavour to provide employment for hundreds of the women of my race."

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Sarah’s four older siblings had been born into slavery, as had their parents before them. However, thanks to an important law: Emancipation Proclamation, Sarah was the first to be born free.

At 14, Sarah moved to St. Louis, Missouri. There, she worked as a washerwoman for $1.50 a day. At night, she attended school.During that time, Sarah started losing her hair. So, she experimented with various products and treatments to cure it. Unfortunately, nothing helped.

So, she attempted to create a hair treatment especially for African Americans. Her husband was very supportive and suggested she changed her name to ”Madam” C.J. Walker to make her products more appealing.

Sarah started travelling the country to promote her hair care line with demonstrations of a hair care formula that used homemade pomade (a scented oil), heated combs and a particular style of brushing to stimulate hair growth. She also hired many other women, and soon the “Walker agents” became very popular.

Madam C.J. Walker became the first female self-made millionaire in America.

Sarah’s success encouraged other women to create their own companies. She supported many charities providing education opportunities for African Americans.