On this day, Dec. 23, in 1867, Madam C. J. Walker, born Sarah Breedlove, entered the world on a plantation in Delta, Louisiana, to formerly enslaved parents. Orphaned at age seven and working as a domestic servant, she endured poverty and hardship before reinventing herself as “Madam” C. J. Walker.
After experimenting with remedies for scalp conditions, Walker founded a thriving business empire selling Black hair care products and cosmetics. Her company employed thousands of African-American women, empowering them through economic opportunities.
Through her entrepreneurial spirit, Walker became America’s first self-made Black female millionaire. A dedicated philanthropist, she supported Black educational institutions and championed civil rights causes. Her estate, Villa Lewaro, stood as a symbol of success and achievement.
Madam C. J. Walker passed away on May 25, 1919, at the age of 51, leaving behind a legacy of empowerment and self-sufficiency that continues to inspire.
