The Sharecropper’s Daughter Who Made Black Women Proud of Their Hair At a time when black citi
The Sharecropper’s Daughter Who Made Black Women Proud of Their Hair At a time when black citizens were kept in poverty through violent intimidation and segregation, Walker’s success was built on the strength of social networks, word-of-mouth testimonials, and products designed for an acutely underserved population. In many ways, Madam Walker’s story is a classic rags-to-riches tale, wherein a poor orphaned girl pulls herself up through sheer determination and willpower, forming a business that becomes an industry giant and the envy of others.A great, surprisingly thorough read on the life of Madam C.J. Walker, a largely-forgotten hair tycoon and millionaire. Perhaps the most fascinating fact that the article rushes by a little bit is the surveillance she was put under during WWI.I also did a quick check and her Irvington, NY home still stands today. It became a National Historic Landmark in the 70s and the National Trust is currently trying to figure out what to do with it going forward (luckily they seem committed to furthering Walker’s legacy and using the site in some way that furthers or supports Black business and industry). You can check out some truly stunning pictures of the house on their website. -- source link
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