” 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”.
I’m sure growing up, we have all heard about the entrepreneurial genius Madam C.J Walker and how she popularized the hot comb. What I didn’t know was the story behind such an incredible woman.I had seen the Netflix trailer for her story played by none other than Octavia Spencer. I waited for the drop in the series and was OOoo soo happy to finally see this four episode limited series of HER-story.
HER-story
Sarah Breedlove was born in 1867 just after Lincoln’s infamous Emancipation Proclamation which “freed” the slaves.Her parents died when she was merely 7. She was sent to live with her sister and brother in Law. There, she picked cotton and later washed cloths. When she was 14, she escaped her sisters household and ran away. She married at the age of 14 and gave birth to her daughter A’leila Walker.She worked as a washerwoman to put Aleila through school.
Sarah struggled with a scalp disorder in the 1890’s that caused her to loose her hair.She was later hired by Annie Turnbo Malone as commissioner agent even though the movie says otherwise. Sarah used Annie’s formula to create her own black hair care products and then sought after to sell it to other African Americans.Through constant determination and perseverance, she pushed herself relentlessly to become the first self made female millionaire in America.This is all from BLACK HAIR CARE. She used the name Madam C.J. Walker as the forefront of her business name and logo. Madam C.J. Walker as we all know her made various astonishing accomplishments to black history. In the 4 part series, we see her chasing after Booker T Washington in hopes of him endorsing her however, he refused to. Rather W.E.B Dubois praised her for her tenacity and entrepreneurial spirit. The Madam was the epitome of female independence with her Walker Agents promoting a philosophy of cleanliness and loveliness.Her vision inspired other African American to advance their status as she had always wanted to. Madam C.J. Walker is the true meaning of a self made millionaire. She used her sphere of influence in philanthropy for the arts, various colleges and even created conventions and conferences for BLACK HAIR CARE.
I was personally glued to every scene of the movie. It is quite funny how we all want the finishing touches of success but scram and complain when we are given the necessary tools to create our own success stories.
Black Hair Care Now
As I was watching this series, I couldn’t help but to question when we as a community stopped making and selling our own hair products to ourselves. When did the Asians such as the Koreans started manufacturing black hair care products to African American Women. These same Asians that look down at black women are always eager to take our money but would never give back. Of all Madam C.J’s success and ventures, the black community was able to reap the benefits to her success.Why is it that now in 2020, we women of color are so welcome to giving our hard earned money to the non black owned beauty supply stores who refuse to give back to the black community. I have never heard of an Asian owned beauty supply store providing aid to any Black women. They refuse to even hire black women at the stores that black women shop at. So how did we get from the likes of Madam C.J Walker with her home made black hair care to giving our money to the Asian community. Something has to change because this 4 part series was more than just black hair, it is a legacy to we as a community need to reconnect to as Black women everywhere. It is time we start making our own products again, selling it to ourselves and even putting the funds into our communities.This new age requires all the Madam C.J Walkers that we can get.