Madame CJ Walker

Madame CJ Walker was a very wealthy African American woman. However, she did not start out that way. She became orphaned at age 6 and had to live with her sister. They were very poor and worked as housemaids. Madame CJ Walker did not let that stop her from pursuing a better life for herself and others. In her early 30’s she developed a hair care product for African American women. Her product became so popular that she was able to get a make a lot of money and employ other people to help her sale her product. Her business model is still used to this day by companies like Avon and Mary Kay to sell beauty products to women. Madame CJ Walker became the first female self-made millionaire in America. Though she was a millionaire she was a huge philanthropist as well. Walker generously supported religious, educational, and civil rights organizations within her community and abroad.