Madame C.J. WalkerMadame C.J. Walker

By Danielle Faden and Dorothy RaginskyBy Danielle Faden and Dorothy Raginsky

ObjectivesObjectives

Explain Madame Explain Madame CJ Walker’s lifeCJ Walker’s life

Show why she Show why she was important was important around the around the 1920s1920s

BackgroundBackground African-American womanAfrican-American woman Given name: Sarah Given name: Sarah

Breedlove McWilliams Breedlove McWilliams Walker Walker

Born in 1867 in LouisianaBorn in 1867 in Louisiana Orphaned at age 7, Orphaned at age 7,

worked on cotton fields worked on cotton fields with older sister to survivewith older sister to survive

In The BeginningIn The Beginning After the death of her first After the death of her first

husband, she moved in husband, she moved in with her brothers who with her brothers who were barberswere barbers

Got involved in the Got involved in the National Association of National Association of Colored WomenColored Women

Getting StartedGetting Started

She had a scalp problem that caused her to lose hairShe had a scalp problem that caused her to lose hair Experimented with home remediesExperimented with home remedies Used some home remedies made by another black Used some home remedies made by another black

woman, Annie Malonewoman, Annie Malone

Getting into the BusinessGetting into the Business In 1905, she moved to In 1905, she moved to

Denver to work as a sales Denver to work as a sales agent for Maloneagent for Malone

Married Charles Joseph Married Charles Joseph Walker and changed her Walker and changed her name to Madame CJ name to Madame CJ WalkerWalker

Annie Malone

CosmeticsCosmetics Founded her own business in DenverFounded her own business in Denver Developed her own scalp healing product, Developed her own scalp healing product,

“Madame Walker’s Wonderful Hair Grower”“Madame Walker’s Wonderful Hair Grower” Began a large sales campaign across the U.S. Began a large sales campaign across the U.S.

(mainly the south)(mainly the south)

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Advertisement and her Business CardAdvertisement and her Business Card

Growing BusinessGrowing Business Madame Walker Madame Walker

opened a college in opened a college in Pittsburg in order to Pittsburg in order to train her “hair train her “hair culturists”culturists”

Cosmetics Cosmetics factory/headquarters factory/headquarters opened in opened in Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis, Indiana in 1910in 1910Walker (left) with prominent businessmen

Strong BusinessStrong Business The company became a national corporation The company became a national corporation

with over 3,000 employees at one pointwith over 3,000 employees at one point Offered jobs to many African-American womenOffered jobs to many African-American women

Madame Walker with some of her cosmetic agents

SuccessSuccess

Madame Walker became the first self-made Madame Walker became the first self-made African-American woman millionaireAfrican-American woman millionaire

She used her prominent position for philanthropyShe used her prominent position for philanthropy

Madame CJ Walker’s home

LegacyLegacy Died in 1919 at age 52Died in 1919 at age 52 The Walker Theater (a The Walker Theater (a

cultural arts center) cultural arts center) opened in Indianapolis in opened in Indianapolis in her honorher honor

Became the first African-Became the first African-American woman on a American woman on a United States postage United States postage stamp in 1998stamp in 1998

The Walker TheaterThe Walker Theater Madame Walker worked Madame Walker worked

on her theater until her on her theater until her death in 1919. Her death in 1919. Her daughter continued to daughter continued to work on it until it opened work on it until it opened in 1927.in 1927.

It faced the possible It faced the possible demolition during the demolition during the 1970s but dedicated 1970s but dedicated African American citizens African American citizens saw the rich history in it saw the rich history in it so, it had to be saved.so, it had to be saved.

The EndThe EndWe hope you enjoyed our presentation and learned

something about Madame C.J. Walker!