- Orphaned at a young age, Sarah Breedlove (Madam CJ Walker) faced adversity from the beginning.
- She worked as a sharecropper and laundress to support herself and her daughter, Lelia, while enduring harsh working conditions and discrimination.
Financial Hardships:
- Despite her hard work, Sarah struggled financially. Her first marriage was to Moses McWilliams, who died just a few years later.
- This left her a single mother, responsible for providing for her daughter.
Health Challenges:
- Sarah also faced health issues, including a scalp disorder that caused her severe hair loss.
- This personal struggle inspired her to develop and market her own line of hair care products specifically designed for African American women.
Lack of Education:
- Born into poverty and orphaned early, Sarah had limited access to education.
- She taught herself to read and write, but her lack of formal education posed challenges in her business endeavors.
Racial Discrimination:
- As an African American woman in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Sarah experienced intense racial discrimination.
- She encountered barriers and prejudices in both her personal and professional life.
Challenges of Entrepreneurship:
- While building her business, Sarah faced skepticism from potential customers and competitors who doubted her abilities as an entrepreneur.
- She had to work hard to establish trust and credibility in a market that was largely dominated by white-owned companies.
Personal Tragedies:
- Sarah Breedlove's second husband, Charles Joseph Walker, died in 1910, which led to personal turmoil and impacted her business.
- Additionally, her daughter, Lelia, had health problems and passed away in 1919. These personal tragedies added emotional strain to her already demanding business life.