Walker was born into poverty in Delta, Louisiana, the daughter of former slaves. She was orphaned at the age of 7 and married at the age of 14. She had three children by the time she was 20 years old.
In the early 1890s, Walker moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where she worked as a laundress. She began to experiment with hair care products and eventually developed a line of products that she sold to other African-American women. In 1905, she founded the Madam C. J. Walker Manufacturing Company.
Walker's business was a huge success. By 1919, she was employing over 3,000 people and had factories in Indianapolis, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Denver, Colorado. Her products were sold throughout the United States and in Europe and Africa.
In addition to her business success, Walker was also a philanthropist. She donated money to various African-American organizations and causes, including the NAACP. She also established a school for girls in Indianapolis.
Walker died in 1919 at the age of 51. She is considered one of the most successful and influential African-American women in history.
Here are some of the things that Madame C. J. Walker did:
- She was the first female self-made millionaire in the United States.
- She founded the Madam C. J. Walker Manufacturing Company, which was one of the most successful African-American businesses in history.
- She employed over 3,000 people and had factories in Indianapolis, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Denver, Colorado.
- Her products were sold throughout the United States and in Europe and Africa.
- She was a philanthropist who donated money to various African-American organizations and causes.
- She established a school for girls in Indianapolis.