Essay On Madam Dj Walker

Madam C.J. Walker: The Woman who changed African American hair care Madam C.J Walker (originally known as Sarah Breedlove) decided that it was time to make a change in the way that African American women took care of their hair. She was born on December 23, 1867, in Delta, Louisiana where her parents (Owen and Minera Breedlove) had been slaves before the civil war. She was also the first in her family to be born free. Early in her life, she suffered many hardships but she persevered. At age seven, an outbreak of yellow fever claimed the lives of both her parents. At age seventeen she gave birth to her daughter A’lelia. After her daughter’s second birthday, her husband was suddenly killed, leaving Sarah as a widow at only the age of 20. Life took a toll on her, and she decided that it was time for a new

In 1905 she invented her hair softener and a special straightening comb for black women. Madam Walker wanted to influence black women to take greater pride in their personal appearance, and to give their hair proper attention. Her products promoted inner an outer beauty. To be beautiful she said: “it does not refer alone to the arrangement of the hair, to the perfection of the complexion, to be beautiful one must combine these qualities with the beautiful mind and soul”(Madam CJ Walker quotes pg.1) Over the course of her career, she decided to open up a hair school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania so that her agents could strive to become prosperous in their careers. In 1910 she decided to move her business to Indianapolis, Indiana where she built a large factory. She then traveled the country building cosmetic empires made up of women who sold and distributed her products. Walker invested her profits into her businesses to build it up. In 1914, her gross income from earnings was over a million dollars, making her the first self-made