America is often called the “land of opportunity,” but for the millions of Africans who were forcibly taken from their homes, transported across the Atlantic, and sold into slavery, it was anything but.
This makes the story of Madam C.J. Walker all the more remarkable. Born to formerly enslaved sharecroppers, she lost both parents by the age of seven and was married by fourteen. By her early twenties, Walker was a widowed single mother, working as a laundress in St. Louis to support herself and her daughter.
Despite these hardships, her determination and resourcefulness helped her transform from a washerwoman into a beauty industry mogul—America’s first self-made female millionaire. Her life is a testament to perseverance, ingenuity, and success. If her journey doesn’t inspire you to pursue your dreams, nothing will.
Early Life and Struggles
Madam C.J. Walker was born Sarah Breedlove on December 23, 1867, on a plantation near Delta, Louisiana. She was the youngest of five children and the first in her family to be born free after the Emancipation Proclamation.
By the time she was seven, both of her parents had passed away within a year. Their cause of death remains unknown. She was sent to live with her older sister in Mississippi, where she likely worked picking cotton and doing household chores.
Although slavery had been abolished, life in Mississippi still mirrored its brutal realities. She endured long working hours for little pay and even had to pay high fees to live in the same shack her sister had occupied during slavery. Adding to her struggles, her brother-in-law was physically abusive.
Seeking escape, she married Moses McWilliams at fourteen. The couple had a daughter, A’Lelia, in 1885. Sadly, Moses died two years later, leaving Sarah a widowed single mother. She moved to St. Louis to be near her brothers, who were working as barbers.
In St. Louis, Sarah took up work as a washerwoman, earning just $1.50 a day. Most of her income went toward her daughter’s education. She also took night classes when possible. Eventually, she met and married Charles J. Walker, an advertising professional whose influence would later prove instrumental in her business success.
Turning a Problem Into an Opportunity
In the 1880s, Sarah began losing her hair due to a severe scalp condition, likely caused by the harsh, lye-based hair products commonly used at the time. Seeking a solution, she tried products from African American entrepreneur Annie Turnbo Malone. Impressed by Malone’s business, Sarah became a sales agent for her.
Working under Malone, she absorbed valuable knowledge about sales, business operations, and hair care.
Building a Beauty Empire
In 1905, at 37, Sarah, Charles, and A’Lelia moved to Denver, Colorado, where she launched her own hair care brand. Encouraged by her husband, she rebranded herself as “Madam C.J. Walker.”
Starting as a small home-based operation, her business quickly flourished. She sold her homemade hair products door-to-door, offering demonstrations and consultations on hair and scalp care. Her approach emphasized education and empowerment, making her more than just a businesswoman—she was a mentor and leader.
Walker Agents: A Movement for Economic Empowerment
Madam Walker trained a network of saleswomen, known as “Walker Agents,” who not only sold her products but also carried themselves with dignity and professionalism. Dressed in signature white uniforms, these agents spread her brand across the U.S. and the Caribbean, providing thousands of Black women with financial independence at a time when their job prospects were mostly limited to domestic work.
By 1910, she had established a headquarters and manufacturing plant in Indianapolis, where she built the Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company. This facility housed a training school, salon, and laboratory. With booming sales, she expanded her reach beyond the U.S., venturing into Central America and other markets.
Walker’s growing wealth allowed her to indulge in luxuries, such as a custom Model T Ford and a grand mansion. However, she never forgot the community that helped her rise to success.
Breaking Barriers in Business
In 1912, at the National Negro Business League convention, led by Booker T. Washington, Walker was initially overlooked as a speaker. Unwilling to be sidelined, she boldly stood up and declared:
“I am a woman who came from the cotton fields of the South. I was promoted from there to the washtub… and I have promoted myself into the business of manufacturing hair goods and preparations.”
Her words captivated the audience, earning her recognition. This defining moment cemented her status as a fearless entrepreneur who refused to be ignored.
Philanthropy and Activism
Despite her wealth, Walker was deeply committed to uplifting her community. She donated to Black churches, educational initiatives, and civil rights causes. She was also an outspoken advocate against racial violence and lynching.
In 1917, she joined a delegation urging President Woodrow Wilson to pass anti-lynching legislation. She also chaired the Circle for Negro War Relief, supporting Black soldiers during World War I.
One of her most notable contributions was a $1,000 donation to the NAACP’s anti-lynching fund—equivalent to nearly $90,000 today—making it the largest individual contribution at the time. In her will, she left nearly $100,000 to charities and ensured that two-thirds of her company’s future profits would go to philanthropic causes.
Walker also mentored young entrepreneurs and frequently gave motivational speeches. She famously said, “I had to make my own living and my own opportunity. But I made it! … Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.”
Villa Lewaro: A Monument to Black Excellence
In 1916, Walker commissioned the construction of Villa Lewaro, a 34-room Italianate mansion in Irvington, New York. Designed by Vertner Tandy, New York’s first licensed Black architect, the mansion was a bold statement of Black wealth and ambition.
Walker hosted notable figures like W.E.B. Du Bois and Langston Hughes there, envisioning it as a gathering place for Black leaders. Unfortunately, she passed away in 1919, just a year after its completion.
In 2018, entrepreneur Richelieu Dennis purchased Villa Lewaro, intending to transform it into a center for Black women entrepreneurs—ensuring that Walker’s legacy of empowerment continues.
America’s First Female Millionaire
At the peak of her success, Walker’s business was generating millions in revenue. When she died in 1919, her estate was valued at $700,000 (equivalent to $14 million today), and her company was worth over $1 million ($30 million today). Adjusted for inflation, her total wealth would be around $45 million. This made her not only the wealthiest Black woman of her time but also the first self-made female millionaire in American history.
A Legacy That Lives On
Madam C.J. Walker passed away on May 25, 1919, at 51, due to complications from hypertension.
Her daughter, A’Lelia Walker, took over the business and became a major figure of the Harlem Renaissance, hosting legendary salons for Black artists and intellectuals.
Over a century later, Walker’s impact endures. She has been inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame, and the Madam Walker Theatre Center in Indianapolis continues to celebrate her legacy. In 2020, Netflix released Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker, starring Octavia Spencer, introducing her story to a new generation.
Madam Walker went from having nothing to becoming one of the wealthiest individuals of her time. But her greatest achievement wasn’t just her fortune—it was proving to generations of African Americans that success was possible.
